By LINDSEY STIEBEN

Special to The Hays Daily News

Fort Hays State University students are selling dog treats and cookies made from family recipes to raise funds for a study abroad trip to Machu Picchu, Peru, in mid-July.

The four faculty members and 14 students are hosting bake sales on campus near Rarick Hall 303 every Monday, Wednesday and Friday this semester, hoping to raise as much as possible before they leave.

"Everything there is homemade from scratch ... even the dog treats made by our secretary, Rhonda Baker," said Evelyn Toft, chairwoman of the Department of Modern Languages at FHSU.

Homemade cookies, breads and dog treats can be ordered for delivery by calling (785) 628-4244. Cost is $5 per dozen cookies and $1.50 per bag of dog treats. Funds raised will be split among the students going, Toft said.

Those enrolled in the Andean Studies course through FHSU will spend two weeks studying Peru online before embarking upon what FHSU Spanish Instructor Rosa-Maria Castaneda calls a two-week trip of "self discovery."

According to Toft, the university has had an agreement with Guadalajara, Mexico, since the late 1990s, but this is the first time the Study Abroad Program will take students to Peru.

"This is a brave first step," Castaneda said. "It takes courage."

As a native of Lima, Peru, Castaneda said she wants to provide students with an authentic experience devoid of a "tourist" feel, so the travelers have opportunities to sharpen their Spanish language skills and experience true Peruvian culture.

The itinerary includes visiting various cities of Peru including Cusco, the ancient capital of the Incan Empire; Lima, the capital city of Peru; and watching the sunrise over Machu Picchu, a lost Incan city discovered in 1911.

Castaneda said FHSU students will interact with students in Cusco, who are learning to speak English "to make friends and be able to go out and do fun things."

"But we are not just going to have fun; we are going to do something for the community, too," Castaneda said.

They plan to engage in community service by painting wooden toys with and for street children.

Students will give presentations reflecting upon their travels that will be open to the public sometime during the fall, she said.

Students still can enroll in the course but are required to place a deposit to reserve a spot. More information can be obtained from the Department of Modern Languages at the phone number above.

Lindsey Stieben of Jetmore is a junior at Fort Hays State University who is majoring in communication studies with an emphasis in journalism.