When Vansee Venuturumilli spoke to fifth-graders Friday afternoon at Sumner Elementary School, they were most interested in his writing skills.

Saturday, April 07, 2001

When Vansee Venuturumilli spoke to fifth-graders Friday afternoon at Sumner Elementary School, they were most interested in his writing skills.

One by one, the students asked Venuturumilli to write their name from one of three national language alphabets he knows.

They "oohed" and "ahhed" with respect at the sight of their names written on the chalkboard and more than one fifth-grader pronounced Venuturumilli’s skill as "cool."

Who wouldn’t think the hand-writing and the hand-writer "cool," when Megan, Zach and other American names are translated into Telugu or Hindi, which Venuturumilli speaks fluently.

Venuturumilli is from India and Friday he was one of three guest speakers sent to Austin by the Minnesota International Center.

The others were Maria Fernandez of Mexico and Julissa Ballon of Peru.

The trio of speakers visited Ellis Middle School and Austin High School in addition to Sumner Elementary School.

Venuturumilli, 24, is working on a master’s degree in the field of industrial engineering at the University of Minnesota. He has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and plans to finish his studies this spring.

Fernandez is executive director for the Institute for Professional Development in Mexico City’s attorney general’s office. Her expertise in the fields of human rights, security, crime prevention and investigation is well-known.

She is an International Humphrey Fellow at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey Institute, where she focuses on public policy and policy-making. She has advanced degrees in political science and international relations from the National Autonomous University of Mexico.

Ballon is an Amity Scholar at Seward Montessori School, where she teachers Spanish. She received her degree in education and taught in elementary and high schools in Peru as well as having an assistant professorship at San Martin de Porres Private University. In addition, she belongs to the Academy of Folk Dance in Peru and has won numerous contests for Peruvian typical dances.

The Minnesota International Center is a non-profit organization founded in 1953 to promote greater awareness and understand of other people and cultures.

provides exchange and hosting programs, a world affairs program and its International Classroom Connection program, which students in Austin Public Schools enjoyed Friday.

Sue Roehrich, coordinator of educational services for Austin Public Schools, coordinated the visit of the trio of presenters.

Richard Crane, marketing director for Hormel Foods International Corp., visited the presentations made Friday at Sumner Elementary School. Hormel Foods Corp. is a corporate member of the Minnesota International Center.

Ballon of Peru dazzled her student audiences with her folk dancing and discussion of Peruvian culture.

"It is my first time to be a presenter, but I hope to do it again," she said.

Also hoping the Minnesota International Center can return to Austin Public Schools is Sue Roehrich, who arranged the three presenters’ visits to social studies classes at Sumner, world geography, civics and social studies at Ellis Middle School and social studies, global insights, communications and relationships and advanced placement human history classes at Austin High School as well as the alternative learning center.

"We appreciate Hormel Foods making this possible," Roehrich said. "There are a lot of benefits to be realized by our students and we hope we can bring back the Minnesota International Center again."

Call Lee Bonorden at 434-2232 or e-mail him at lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com.