On November 10, 2025, Diegory Guarchaj, class of 2013, returned from Guatemala to visit SUNY Broome. Diegory had been a SEED student here, from 2011-2013. The SEED (Scholarship for Education and Economic Development) program was a State Department program that brought students from Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America to campus. The program lasted over 20 years, focusing on outstanding students who might not have been able to go to college otherwise. The students studied quality control, engaged in community service, were active in the International Students Organization, and learned English, often starting from scratch.
In his short visit on campus, Diegory shared how studying here, and how learning English at SUNY Broome, changed the trajectory of his life. He now works, online in English from Guatemala, for an American fence company. He met his wife, Glenda Castro, at an earlier job, where proficiency in English was also required. Without his SUNY Broome education, he pointed out, they likely would never have met.
Glenda had hoped she might see snow for the first time, and Mother Nature came through, with a vengeance, on Tuesday, November 11, with the first winter storm of 2025-2026.
While Diegory was prepared to thank the SUNY Broome faculty and staff for what he had learned here, he wasn’t prepared to hear how much he and his classmates had touched the lives of the professionals here at SUNY Broome.
As a founding member of SUNY Broome’s Toastmasters Club, Speakers of the House, he had inspired Penny DelFavero, Kathleen McKenna, and Meigo Fitzpatrick . Meigo showed him a photo, still handing in her office, of Diego and his classmates. Toastmasters continues to this day, Fridays at 3:00, in hybrid format. Diego will pop in for a visit sometime soon.
Likewise, Steve Ohl, of the Business Department, shared with Diegory and Glenda a picture of himself with Diegory and his classmates, still proudly displayed in Professor Ohl’s office.
The most touching interaction, by far, though, was a surprise meeting with an overjoyed Professor Brian Loy. When Diegory asked him Professor Loy remembered him, Professor Loy pointed to a thank you letter from Diegory that still hangs proudly over his desk. It reads, in part, “the classes we had with you were full not only of fun but also of knowledge. Indeed we have learned a lot of things with you…”
The benefits of internationalizing our classes definitely flowed in both directions. We look forward to inviting Diegory and his classmates back to visit Toastmasters virtually in the near future, and to inviting current members of the SUNY Broome community to give and to receive from our international partners.
Submitted by: COIL
Tags: Diversity
