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Louis Bobelis ‘12 travels to Thailand as part of a cultural leadership program By: Chris Girandola
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ince graduating from Farragut in 2012, Louis Bobelis has committed himself to carving a path laid with opportunities. This approach, first cultivated at Farragut over his six years of schooling, has blossomed even more during his time at the University of Tampa, where he earned a degree in finance this year. “Farragut allowed me to build the type of foundation that has given me the confidence to pursue many different things since graduating,” said Bobelis, who has plans to further his education at business school. “You really are able to tap into your strengths (at Farragut). The military aspect gives you a sense of decorum that you carry over into life in regard to how you treat people with respect and dignity. Plus, being at a school that has a global community gives you an idea of what people are like throughout the world.” Bobelis has been able to take this worldly approach to a higher level as an Army ROTC Cadet at the University of Tampa. In particular, the native of St. Petersburg travelled to Thailand during the summer of 2014 as a part of the Cadet Command’s Cultural Understanding & Language Proficiency (CULP) program. Recognizing the need for young leaders to develop more cultural awareness, the Army selects approximately 1,300 cadets from across the country to participate in the program. Slots are awarded on a competitive basis and take into account several factors, such as GPA, physical fitness, an essay, and other pertinent
selection criteria. Bobelis went to Thailand as a part of a 15-cadet group spending 30 days interacting with cadets at the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy (CRMA), which is the military academy of the Royal Thai Army. “It was amazing to build relationships with people who are on a similar path as you,” said Bobelis, who will serve as a reserve officer in Tampa. “They wanted to learn as much as they could from us just as much as we wanted to learn from them. It was an incredible cooperative effort.” In addition to serving as instructors at the academy, Bobelis and his group spent the weekends enjoying everything that Thailand has to offer, including walking a tiger, riding an elephant, and visiting a monkey temple. “The culture of Thailand is remarkable, to say the least,” Bobelis said. “More so, though, being immersed with future leaders from another part of the world was eye-opening. It really gives you a sense of purpose knowing you are building and improving global relationships.”
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