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COMMUNITY COLLEGE INITIATIVE

STUDENT APPLICATION 2021-2022
Before completing this application, you must read all of the information at
https://co.usembassy.gov/es/education-culture-es/community-college-initiative-cci/. On this website, you will
find complete information about the Community College Initiative (CCI) Program, eligibility requirements,
application requirements, additional required documents that must be submitted, and deadlines.

Please complete all questions on this application in English. If the question does not apply to you, write N/A.

Personal Information
Full name (as listed on cédula)

First Name: Edgar

Second Name: Alfredo
Last Names: Bermeo Van Den Berghe

Address where you live Phone number: 573195368254

Street and number: Calle 64 J #77 A 27
City: Bogotá
Department: Cundinamarca E-mail: edogarunin@hotmail.com

Gender: Masculine Marital status: Date of birth:

☒ Single Month:12
☐ Married Day: 16
Year:1991
Age:

Country/Countries where you are a citizen: Colombia Where were you born?
City: Bogotá
Country: Colombia

Have you participated in any programs related to the U.S. Embassy? Yes ☐ No ☒
If yes, program name:

Year(s) you participated:

English Proficiency
English exam or certificate you are using to meet the English language requirement to apply for the CCI Program:
Name of English exam/certificate/program:
English level:

Remember that in order to be considered for the program, you must provide a certificate or results that clearly shows a
minimum B1 level or equivalent (Common European Framework).

Proposed Field of Study

Applicants must apply in only one field of study. Select your preferred field of study from the options below.
Then, select two or three concentration areas in that same field of study and note the order of your
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preference. The concentration areas all must be in the same field of study.

Field of Study Concentration Area Rank Order Preference

(choose 1): (choose 2 or 3): (1 is highest, 3 is lowest)

☐Agriculture ☐Agribusiness 1☐ 2☐ 3☐
☐Agricultural Geospatial Technology 1☐ 2☐ 3☐
☐Agricultural Production Management 1☐ 2☐ 3☐
☐Animal Science 1☐ 2☐ 3☐
☐Environmental Horticulture and Conservation 1☐ 2☐ 3☐
☐Parks and Natural Resources 1☐ 2☐ 3☐
☐Small Scale Food Production 1☐ 2☐ 3☐
☐Sustainable Agriculture 1☐ 2☐ 3☐
☐Applied ☐Architecture 1☐ 2☐ 3☐
Engineering ☐Automotive Technology or Service Management 1☐ 2☐ 3☐
☐Computer Aided Design 1☐ 2☐ 3☐
☐Construction Management 1☐ 2☐ 3☐
☐Electro Mechanical Technology 1☐ 2☐ 3☐
☐Electrical Systems Maintenance 1☐ 2☐ 3☐
☐Electrical Technology 1☐ 2☐ 3☐
☐Electricity and Electronics Technology 1☐ 2☐ 3☐
☐Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning 1☐ 2☐ 3☐
☐Machine Repair: Automated Systems 1☐ 2☐ 3☐
☐Manufacturing Technology 1☐ 2☐ 3☐
☐Mechatronics 1☐ 2☐ 3☐
☐Robotics 1☐ 2☐ 3☐
☐Welding 1☐ 2☐ 3☐
☐Early ☐Administration of an ECE Center 1☐ 2☐ 3☐
Childhood ☐Early and School-Age Care Specialist 1☐ 2☒ 3☐
Education ☐Early Childhood Education and Development 1☒ 2☐ 3☐
☐Special Education 1☐ 2☐ 3☒
☐Information ☐Computer Information Systems (CIS)/Computer Science (CS) 1☐ 2☐ 3☐
Technology ☐Computer Internetworking Technologies (CIT) 1☐ 2☐ 3☐
☐Geographic Information Systems (GIS) 1☐ 2☐ 3☐
☐IT Technician: Desktop Support, Computer Support, Network Technician 1☐ 2☐ 3☐
☐Media ☐Digital Media/Animation 1☐ 2☐ 3☐
☐Film Studies/ Motion Picture/ Television 1☐ 2☐ 3☐
☐Graphic Design 1☐ 2☐ 3☐
☐Journalism 1☐ 2☐ 3☐
☐Public & Media Relations 1☐ 2☐ 3☐
☐Social Media Marketing 1☐ 2☐ 3☐
☐Web Design 1☐ 2☐ 3☐
☐Web Development 1☐ 2☐ 3☐
☐Public Safety ☐Fire Sciences, Protection and Safety 1☐ 2☐ 3☐
☐Emergency Services 1☐ 2☐ 3☐
☐Tourism and ☐Hospitality and Hotel Management 1☐ 2☐ 3☐
Hospitality ☐Culinary Arts and Restaurant Management 1☐ 2☐ 3☐
Management ☐Meeting, Event, and Exhibition Planning 1☐ 2☐ 3☐
☐Tourism 1☐ 2☐ 3☐
Background Information

Educational History

Are you currently a student? ☐ Yes ☒ No

Name of institution:
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How many semesters have you completed? 10

Please fill out the following chart based on your educational history. Start with your current or your most recent
institution. Please list information for your high school studies and for any studies (technical/vocational,
university, etc.) after high school.

Location of When did you When did you What is/was

Have you
institution start your finish your your area of
Name of institution received a
(city, studies? studies? study?
degree?
department) (Month/Year) (Month/Year)

Uniminuto University Bogotá 08/2017 12/2020 no Psychology

Have you received a scholarship or funding for any of your studies? ☐ Yes ☒ No
If so, please describe the scholarship:

Work Experience
Are you currently employed? ☒ Yes ☐ No

List the jobs you have had, beginning with your current or most recent employment.

When did you

When did you
Name of company or start
Position title stop working? Job responsibilities
employer working?
(Month/Year)
(Month/Year)
Teleperformance Agent 06/2017 12/2017 Attend Uber clients
Instituto Sudamericano Teacher 04/2016 10/2016 Teach children to drawing and
painting

Leadership and Community Service Experience

Leadership and community service are fundamental parts of the CCI program and the selection process. Please list any
experience you have as a volunteer and/or any experience as a participant or leader in extracurricular activities or
organizations.

.
When did When did
Leadership
Title or name of you start the you finish the Describe your involvement in this
position held (if
project/activity activity? activity? project/activity
applicable)
(Month/Year) (Month/Year)
Phycology for autism Phycologist 05/2020 12/2020 Make treatment to a child with
autism
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Have you ever traveled outside of Colombia? ☒ Yes ☐ No

If yes, please fill out the following information for any trips outside of Colombia:

Travel start Travel end

Purpose of travel:
date date Who paid for the expenses
Country/Countries visited vacation, studies, work,
(month/day/ (month/day/ related to your trip?
other (explain)
year) year)
Ecuador 07/2012 11/2017 studies family

How did you find out about the CCI Program? (Check all that apply.)

☐ U.S. Embassy social media

☐ Social media account of other institution
☒ Friend or family member
☐ EducationUSA
☐ Former grantee
☐ Other – please explain:
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QUESTIONS

For all questions below, please type your answers below or on the following page. Please follow the word
limits listed with each question.
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Short Answer #1 (maximum 125 words)
Describe growing up in your home. Explain where you grew up, who lived in your home with you, what your
parents’ job responsibilities were during your youth (if they were employed), and what your surrounding
community was like.

I was born and raised in Bogotá-Colombia. I lived with my parents in childhood and part of adolescence. My mother
worked in the call center and my father worked for an oil company as an organizer. I studied in a private school, my
environment was always calm and supported me a lot in the study.

Short Answer #2 (maximum 125 words total)

a.) What does leadership mean to you?

Leadership for me means being able to direct and guide the people who work with you to develop a
common project or activity. Understand the strengths of each one, and implement the best strategy to
develop the maximum potential in people to generate greater efficiency and productivity.

b.) Do you consider yourself a leader? If yes, what is an example of a time when you demonstrated
leadership?

I consider myself a leader. I demonstrated leadership by conducting group psychological treatment for
several children with autism. I Helped and guide my colleagues during the process to generate greater
effectiveness. My colleagues asked me for help and together we managed to establish strategies that
allowed us to improve our intervention strategies.

Short Answer #3 (maximum 125 words)

Please describe a problem or obstacle in your educational or personal life. How did you overcome it?

An obstacle in my professional life was the beginning of the coronavirus stage. It was a change that affected the
way I studied and interacted with others, both family, friends, and college colleagues. The study modality
completely changed when being online. I had to get used to taking exams and learning that way. I also had to
learn to do group activities with classmates online. I managed to change my strategies to achieve my goals
despite adversity.

Short answer #4 (maximum 125 words)

The CCI Program prioritizes students from underserved or underrepresented communities. Describe how these
criteria applies to you.
One of the most vulnerable communities today are children with autism, who do not receive adequate
psychological treatment, a precise education, are excluded from schools and communities because of different
conditions. This type of behavior by the community generates a rejection of children who are different and
therefore make them suffer, both themselves and their families, because they are segregated, they are not treated
like all other children. A good purpose is to learn to teach children without autism to be tolerant and respectful,
and to teach children with autism to develop their potential through joint learning, where everyone can learn
mutually, without rejection, without segregation, through of an inclusive education without prejudice.

Short answer #5 (maximum 125 words)

Describe a time when you have demonstrated the ability to go above and beyond what was expected of you.

Within the university, I had the opportunity to carry out my professional internship treating a child with autism for 8
months. This type of practice allowed me to better understand autism, how to carry out adequate psychological treatment,
and understand the needs of children with autism since many do not know how they should be treated to improve their
quality of life. I understand that this population is vulnerable and needs not only adequate psychological treatment but also
educating parents and people who live with them so that they can better understand their condition and thus integrate
children with autism into society without discrimination.
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COMMUNITY COLLEGE INITIATIVE PROGRAM

APPLICATION CERTIFICATION STATEMENT

I certify that I completed this application myself, that the information given in this application is complete and
accurate, and that I have carefully read and understand it.

I certify that I have read and I understand all of the information about the program on the U.S Embassy
Community College Initiative webpage:
https://co.usembassy.gov/es/education-culture-es/community-college-initiative-cci/.

I understand that program administrators reserve the right to verify all the information listed in the application.
I understand that giving false or misleading information in the application will eliminate me from the
competition or cause my dismissal from the Community College Initiative Program.

I acknowledge that I am aware of the following program requirements:

 I must follow all program rules and regulations and observe all the laws of the United States during my stay
there.
 At the end of the academic year program, I will return to my home country and fulfill a two-year, home-
country residency requirement in compliance with the terms of my J-visa. I understand that I may not
extend my program dates.
 The health benefits coverage provided to me during my travels is intended only for emergencies and does
not cover pre-existing or dental conditions.
 My spouse, children, other relatives or individuals are not permitted to accompany me to the United States
on the program.

________EDGAR ALFREDO BERMEO ______ _____02/11/2021______________________

Signature of applicant Date (month/day/year)

Note: It is not necessary to print this form and sign physically. You may sign electronically by typing
your full name and the date in the spaces provided. By signing electronically, you agree to the entirety of
the certification statement on this page.