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2019 Graduation

Keynote Speaker Marcos Antil

Marcos Antil

Keynote Speaker

As a Mayan Q’anjob’al, Marcos Antil carries Guatemala in his heart. He’s a migrant, a technology entrepreneur and the founder of XumaK, a company that has grown in the United States, Colombia, and Guatemala. His business has clients in more than 25 countries and some of them are part of the Fortune 500 list.
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He was born and raised in Santa Eulalia, Huehuetenango, Guatemala. At age 14, Marcos began the journey to flee the war and move, undocumented, to the United States. His family migrated before him so he was in the move on his own. Nowadays, thousands of children in the region continue to try to escape poverty, hunger, and criminal violence.

It was difficult for him to begin his studies in the United States because he could only speak a little bit of Spanish, but no English at all. Thanks to his conviction and desire to move forward, he managed to finish high school at Belmont High School in Los Angeles. While he was working as a gardener’s helper on weekends, he found an unexpected connection to the technology industry. That’s how he entered Bakersfield State University in California, where he graduated as a system engineer. As a result of his studies and efforts, he became an entrepreneur in the technology industry. Through his company, he has provided job opportunities to young people in Guatemala, Colombia, the United States, and other countries.

The Government of Guatemala named him Peace Ambassador because of his human and social commitment, and his contribution to education. Prensa Libre, Guatemala’s leading newspaper, recognized him as Person of the Year in 2014 for his trajectory as an entrepreneur, migration story and his altruistic work in the educational field. In January 2016, Galileo University, a private higher education institution in Guatemala, which stands out for its technological contribution to the country’s education, awarded him the title of Doctorate Honoris Causa in Information Technologies, thus highlighting his work in the digital area at a global level.

One of his most recent initiatives is Café Con Causa (Coffee with a Cause), which donates 100% of its profits to bring free education to rural and remote areas of Guatemala. In September 2019 he launched his autobiographic book MIGRANTE, whose main objective is to share his life experience in order to motivate others to fight for their dreams. With his book and his trajectory, Marcos tells us that in life, nothing is impossible.

Isabel Abreu Núñez

Isabel Abreu

Honorary Degree

Isabel is the Sales and Marketing Manager at FERQUIDO, a company that supports the development of agriculture in the Dominican Republic. She was a member of the Board of Directors of the Instituto Superior de Agricultura (ISA) and is an Emeriti Director at EARTH University.

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Isabel served for 10 years on the Board of Directors at EARTH University. She was the only woman who performed duties on the first Board of Directors. Together with other members, during this period she took part in the design of the university’s unique academic model. She also sought partners and allies who wanted to give new opportunities to talented young people in Latin America. Isabel worked as a consultant for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and she was a professor in recognized universities in the Dominican Republic.

She has demonstrated an enormous commitment by supporting EARTH’s outreach and promotion efforts related to students, donors, and graduates. Her interests are education and rural development. She has more than 40 years of experience in the productive sector where she has advised producers on how to improve production in a sustainable manner.

Graduation Week Activities

  1. 07:00 – 09:00 p.m.
    “Heliconia Award” CeremonyLocation: GymnasiumDress Code: Casual – Humid TropicsJoyful ceremony to recognize outstanding graduating students who embody the values of EARTH University.
  1. 08:45 – 09:30 a.m.
    Flag Hoisting CeremonyLocation: Plaza de las Américas (downstairs of the library)Dress Code: Casual – Humid TropicsProtocol ceremony to honor all the nationalities represented in the graduating class.
  2. 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
    Reflection and gratitudeLocation: Ecumenical ChapelDress Code: Casual – Humid TropicsA special time to thank and acknowledge the achievements and lessons learned.
  3. 02:00 – 04:15 p.m.
    Campus Tour – OptionalBuses depart from Plaza las Américas (below of the library)Dress Code: Informal (closed shoes, hat or cap, repellent, sunscreen)Optional activity for those who want to see the Guácimo Campus.
  4. 07:00 – 09:00 p.m.
    Celebration dinnerLocation: EARTH President’s houseDress Code: Formal – Humid Tropics (remember that the weather is humid and hot, it’s recommended to wear beach formal clothes, like guayabera for men)Dinner offered to the graduates by EARTH’s president, Arturo Condo, to celebrate this important occasion.
  1. 07:00 – 07:40 a.m.
    Photo sessionLocation: GymnasiumSpace for taking photographs of EARTH authorities.
  2. 08:00 – 11:00 a.m.
    Graduation CeremonyLocation: GymnasiumOfficial graduation ceremony of the 2019 class.
  3. 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
    Time for greetings and taking picturesLocation: Gymnasium
  4. 12:00 p.m. – 01:00 p.m.
    Lunch for 2019 Graduates and their guestsLocation: Gymnasium

The University offers transportation to all the activities.

Departures will happen half an hour before each activity, from Plaza de las Americas, below the W.K. Kellogg Library.

Class Reunions of 2019


Class 1994, 1999, 2004, 2009 and 2014