Fundación Internacional Otto Krause,
expandiendo horizontes.
The “Otto Krause International Foundation” was created at the initiative of graduates of the school, residing in the USA.
Quiénes somos
The Otto Krause International Foundation (OKIF), a legal entity established in the United States, aims to enable graduates of the Otto Krause Technical School residing outside of Argentina to channel their financial and material support to the school's educational mission.
Los objetivos de La Fundación son:
Create and expand a network of donors worldwide through social media and other means.
To financially support the exchange of students, professors and administrators of The School with educational institutions outside of Argentina, generating a permanent and sustainable monetary fund in the style of study foundations in the USA (Harvard, Yale, Cornell) for future generations of Krausean students and teachers.
To award annual scholarships to students pursuing higher technical studies related to the School's curriculum outside of Argentina.
To finance monthly the purchase of material items requested by the School that are required for educational purposes but that cannot be financed by the National Institute of Technological Education or the government of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires.
As of March 3, 2022, the U.S. tax authorities (the Internal Revenue Service) have approved OKIF as a non-profit entity, authorized to receive donations that are taxable from donors (Section 501 (3)(c)).
BOARD OF TRUSTEES / CONSEJO DE FIDEICOMISARIOS
Luis Acosta, Construcciones 1982 – Tesorero
Carla Finkielstein, Química 1986 – Presidente
Ricardo Hendi, Construcciones 1984 – Vicepresidente y Director Ejecutivo
Esteban Mezquiriz, Computación 2002 – Secretario
Fernando Leibowich Beker, Computing 1999
María “Kechy” Gordillo, Electrical 1973
Daniel Rabinovich, Computing 2004
Enrique “Henry” Weinschenk, Electrical 1959
Programs
Programa de Intercambio Otto Krause – PVCC
Since 1992, the Otto Krause Technical School has been developing a student exchange program with Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) in Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
PVCC—like other community colleges in the United States—is a post-secondary educational institution with university articulation. Its programs are two years long and allow graduates to continue their undergraduate studies at universities, entering directly into the third year. It offers programs in technology, sciences, and the humanities.
The exchanges last six weeks. Each year, a student from Krause High School who has completed the fifth year attends a variety of classes at PVCC, actively participating from early January to mid-February. This allows them to improve their English language skills and make friends with other students and teachers, learning a great deal about U.S. society, customs, and culture.
In May of that same year, a boy from the PVCC traveled to Buenos Aires and for six weeks participated in all kinds of classes at the Krause Institute, staying with the family of the Krause boy who had previously been at PVCC. In this way, he perfected his Spanish language skills and learned a great deal about Argentine society, customs, and culture.
The students who participate in this exchange program often say upon their return that the experience changed their lives, broadened their horizons, and in some cases even their career goals. And most importantly, they have made lifelong friends.
As a result of this student exchange, a parallel, shorter-term faculty exchange program began in 2013. This exchange has motivated some Krause faculty members to introduce innovative pedagogical ideas at the school.
Summer Internship Program (SIP)
The Otto Krause/Virginia educational exchange experience that Dr. Finkielstein conceived, developed, and has continuously implemented for the past 12 years has promoted the learning and professional development of young people from a wide range of cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Goals
Objetivo 1: Contribuir a la educación global y el compromiso regional manteniendo almismo tiempo un compromiso con la diversidad cultural, la tolerancia internacional ytranscultural, la ética profesional y la competencia global.
Objetivo 2: Mejorar el acceso de estudiantes regionales y extranjeros a tecnología de punta y al mismo tiempo fomentar colaboraciones de investigación internacional.
Who participates?
| From Virginia: Each year, students attending schools in rural and underserved urban areas of southern Virginia will join high school students from a technical education program in Argentina (Otto Krause Technical School). Beyond regional objectives, SIP aims to address some of the scientific needs and technological challenges of developing societies, specifically those in Latin America. As such, our program teaches and trains high school students in advanced technologies within our research area, while also fostering social interaction with local students and promoting collaborations with their international institutions. |
| Argentine students are recruited from the Otto Krause Technical School, a top-tier public high school that emphasizes technology education. As an alumna, Dr. Finkielstein is familiar with the school's curriculum, particularly in chemistry, and the quality of its education. While Otto Krause teachers are among the best-prepared professionals in the country, funding has traditionally limited students' access to emerging technologies. Therefore, SIP aims to fill this gap by bringing together students from Virginia and Argentina, fostering academic development while simultaneously learning about each other's cultures. |
How are the students selected?
| Virginia students: Dr. Finkielstein has a well-developed outreach program that works with high school biology/chemistry teachers and students in the region and has helped promote the program in the area. We announced this opportunity through an established network of teachers and students. |
| International students: Teachers announce positions at Otto Krause High School in the monthly student newsletter. The application process consists of several phases, including in-person and virtual interviews, completing a questionnaire in Spanish and English where candidates describe their career goals, commitment to higher education, community service experience, other interests and qualifications, and submitting letters of recommendation. Students are notified seven months prior to departure to facilitate travel and visa arrangements. |
How is the program organized?
Regional and international students receive a “Research Pack” outlining the experimental work, which is divided into groups (e.g., cloning strategies, protein purification) and planned week by week. Each student has a specific and unique project and works alongside a graduate student or postdoctoral scientist in the lab, who serves as the primary mentor in that particular area of research. The research plan is complemented by social events and weekend trips to nearby areas. Students reside in dormitories and are encouraged to participate in campus life.
How are the results evaluated?
Both groups of students present their work in a seminar at the end of their stay, which is attended by all members of our laboratory, in a series of public lectures organized by the Extension Program and by their home schools.
Members
President
Ricardo Hendi
Especialización Construcciones – Egresado en 1984
Arquitecto y MMO Otto Krause 6C1 – 1984, recibido de Maestro Mayor de Obras de la Escuela Técnica Otto Krause (1984). Ricardo obtuvo su Licenciatura en Arquitectura “Cum Laude”, de la Universidad de Carleton en Ottawa, Canadá, y publicó su tesis de quinto año en el periódico anual estudiantil de 1992. Trabajó en Barry Padolsky Architects , (Canadá), WDG, SK&I, Powers Brown y HOK (USA). Ricardo ha trabajado y realizado más de 200 proyectos de todo tipo y envergadura durante su carrera. Tiene más de 38 años de experiencia en arquitectura y construcción. Ha trabajado para una variedad de firmas en Argentina, Canadá y EE. UU donde reside hoy en día y es principal de su propia firma de Arquitectura (Arimse Architects, LLC).
Vice President
Carla Finkielstein
Especialización Chemestry – Egresada en 1986
Dr. Finkielstein, a 1986 graduate of Otto Krause High School with a degree in Chemistry, is a Professor of Cell and Molecular Biology in the Department of Biological Sciences at Virginia Tech, Director of the Integrated Cellular Responses Laboratory (ICRL), and Scientific Director of the Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute. At ICRL, Dr. Finkielstein leads a group working at the interface of several disciplines to study the contribution of environmental changes to cancer initiation and spread. For the past 15 years, Dr. Finkielstein has also maintained an international exchange program that has facilitated access to scientific internships for students from Otto Krause High School and other Virginia schools.
Secretary
Esteban Mezquiriz
Especialización Computación – Egresado en 2002
Egresado de la especialidad Computación del Otto Krause en el año 2002. Se graduó de abogado especializado en derecho económico y financiera de la Universidad de Buenos Aires, y tiene una Maestría en Negocios de la UADE, y tiene diversas certificaciones en metodologías ágiles para el desarrollo de software. Actualmente vive en Nashvile, EE UU y se desempeña como Director de Delivery en la compañía de tecnología Globant donde lidera grandes operaciones de diseño y desarrollo de soluciones tecnológicas, poniendo siempre como foco en todo lo que hace hacer el bien para la comunidad y el planeta. Esteban es Mentor voluntario en el centro de innovación para la comunidad de la Universidad de Vanderbilt (The Wond’ry) y tiene una gran vocación por acompañar emprendedores sociales en sus procesos de innovación y creación.
Trustee
Henry Weinschenk
Especialización Eléctrica – Egresado en 1959
He was an Electrical Designer for heavy industry. Project Manager for complex conveyor belt systems. Engineering Department Manager at United Parcel Service in the US and Germany, responsible for the planning and design of parcel sorting and transshipment facilities. Later, as an entrepreneur, he started a company that designed, built, and operated full-service tunnel car washes. He also worked as a consultant, specializing in market research for car washes, having developed a proprietary model for predicting annual volumes.
Trustee
Fernando Leibowich Beker
Especialización Computación – Egresado en 1999
A 1999 graduate of Otto Krause with a degree in Computer Science, he founded LID Software during his final year at Krause, and later, in 2014, to Beecker and after his exit to an American investment fund in 2022, to CloudShore Inc. He also holds a degree in Computer Science and an MBA from the University of Palermo (Argentina) and a PhD in Administration from the Universidad Internacional (México). In 2021, the Ministry of Education of the State of Morelos recognized his initiative Postgraduate Institute in Artificial Intelligence as a university, of which Fernando is currently the President. He is also currently a technology entrepreneur and lives in Cuernavaca, Morelos (Mexico).
Trustee
Luis Acosta
Especialización Construcciones – Egresado en 1982
A 1982 graduate of Otto Krause with a degree in Construction, Luis has over 35 years of experience in architecture and construction. He has worked for some of the leading architectural firms in South Florida. Luis received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Buenos Aires in Argentina. He has been with Claren Architecture + Design since its inception. He has extensive knowledge of all aspects of the construction industry. Luis is LEED certified and has led multiple LEED projects. He has broad experience in many types of public and private projects. He oversees in-house production and coordination. On weekends, he referees youth soccer in Delaware, where he lives after moving from South Florida.
Trustee
Daniel Rabinovich
Especialización Computación – Egresado en 2004
How to donate?
A continuación la fundación pone a disposición las opciones de donación.
If you are interested in donating, you can do so through the following two means:
1) By check, made payable to our foundation at the following address:
OTTO KRAUSE INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION
116 E ROSEMONT AVE ALEXANDRIA, VA 22301
2) Through the Paypal platform by clicking on the following link and completing the indicated steps:
Contact us!
Questions? Comments? Suggestions?
Write to us using the form below and we'll get back to you shortly!