A LIFETIME Freshman Francisco Villatoro first came into contact with Share Smiles when he was s years old. Now a part-time Harding student, Villatoro was an active member of the student-led campus organization. Walton Scholars founded Share Smiles, a national nonprofit, to promote community outreach in El Salvador. They visited Villatoro's hometown, Intipuca, El Salvador when he was a child and encouraged him throughout his life to complete high school. Senior Trey Pope, president of Share Smiles at Harding, said Villatoro was living proof of the impact Share Smiles could have on students' lives. "He is kind of like the success project of the organization," Pope said. Pope explained mission teams traveled to El Salvador frequently to teach youth about personal hygiene, sex education from a Christian perspective, and finishing school so they could pursue careers to benefit the country's economy. Villatoro studied English for two years after OF SMILES Hy Julie Anne i1'hite graduating high school before receiving a scholarship to attend Harding part time beginning in the fall of 2015. Villatoro said with the help of a translator he was most looking forward to "learning more about the English language and exchanging cultures with other people." Adjunct professor of business William Oliver agreed to sponsor Villatoro for one year of classes in English and bwiness at Harding. Villatoro lived in Oliver's home and rode with him to campus each day. Oliver said he had hosted students in his home for many years and believed in the work Share Smiles accomplished. The organization taught the students valuable information about health and the English language and provided beneficial after-school Bible programs, according to Oliver. The members provided their input as to whom Oliver should sponsor at Harding. "We let Share Smiles make the selection of who we might bring over here," Oliver said. "The fact that they can go in and interact with these schools is a gift from God." Villatoro said he was thankful for the opportunity Oliver and the Share Smiles organization offered him to expand his mind and share his culture. "I am very happy for the opportunity Share Smiles has given me to be here," Villatoro said. "It is an organization that is willing to help a lot of young people like me, to facilitate them to grow academically. They help a lot of our dreams come true." According to Pope, Villatoro's success was an encouragement to everyone who participated in Share Smiles and to his fellow students in El Salvador. "A lot of those students don't have a lot of incentive to (graduate) from high school because there are not a lot of opportunities there," Pope said. "Through the program and our relationship with him, we got him to graduate high school. Now he is at Harding surrounded by Christian students and furthering his education. It's like the sky is the limit." Freshmwz Frnncisco \:illulol'ofirst e.,pel'ienced the u•o1·/,. oj Shurf' Smile.~ rn /11.~ 0111n /(fr tl'hen he UJ(IS 0111.11 5 yec11·s old. leadiny him to become an actii•e 111e111ber <~{ the oyl'a11izutio11 h1.,Jresh111u11 ye111· ut Ilurdiny. I Photo by Ou•en !frown F HES 11 ~IE~ I (i I
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc5NA==