Nayibe Tavares

Winning a Western Michigan University Presidential Scholarship for International Students and the quality of the University's imaging program were key factors in Nayibe Tavares decision to move to Kalamazoo.

"I wanted to learn as much as possible about the printing industry," said Tavares, a native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. "I am passionate about it and I want to take as much advantage as possible of the opportunities that WMU is giving me."

Adapting to life in a city several hundred miles north of her homeland was not too much of a problem for Tavares, who found plenty of fun outdoor and indoor activities to enjoy in her free time. "I like the Broadway musicals at Miller Auditorium, watching the Bronco football games with my friends and working out at the recreation center," she said.

Her advice for travelers to the Dominican Republic: Go to the beach!

"If you ever go to the Dominican Republic, make sure you go to the beach, especially Cabarete, Punta Cana, Bahia de las Aguilas or Samana," she said. "They're beautiful! Also, visit the Colonial Zone in Santo Domingo. We have a lot of historical places there, like the first cathedral of the Americas and the Diego Columbus house (Christopher Columbus' brother)."