A Cal Poly student, identified as business administration junior Matt Yount, died in Sevilla, Spain this past Thursday. Yount (center) was studying abroad in southern Spain at the time.
Samantha Sullivan
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Business administration junior Matt Yount drowned in Sevilla, Spain while on a CEA Global Education study abroad trip on Nov. 21.
CEA’s local team has worked closely with the authorities, the United States Embassy and students on site to memorialize Yount and to determine the cause of the accident, CEA President Marcie Schneider said.
“This impacts all of CEA as well as Cal Poly,” Schneider said. “We’re all very saddened by the lost of a student on one of our programs.”
Before a student departs for a trip through CEA, they are educated on best traveling practices and safety tips, Schneider said. This advice is reiterated when students arrive on site through an orientation program, she said.
Student safety is critical and of the “utmost importance” to CEA, Schneider said. The organization will continue to reemphasize its safety orientation with all students that come to its locations, she said.
There are no plans now for any immediate changes because of Yount’s accident, Schneider said.
Schneider has been with CEA for three years. Senior Vice President for Program Management and Development Caroline Walsh has been with CEA for 14 years. To their knowledge, CEA has not had a tragedy like this before, Schneider said.
Approximately 5,000 students a year go on the CEA program, Schneider said.
“We value each student that goes on our program, and it’s very important to us,” Schneider said. “We’re all very saddened and looking for ways to support our students and staff, as well as the families of students that are on our programs.”
Schneider and Walsh plan to be in attendance at Yount’s memorial service, Schneider said. The service will take place after the Thanksgiving break, according to a campuswide email from Cal Poly President Jeffery Armstrong and Vice President of Student Affairs Keith Humphrey.