Alumni President Chris Boyd recently attended the Edmund Rice Education Beyond Borders Congress 2026 in Uruguay, alongside Mr. Zimmermann, Mrs. Roder, and Br. O’Neill. The congress brought together members of the global Edmund Rice community for days of reflection, learning, and renewed commitment to service.
Here is his reflection of one of the most memorable moments of the trip.
Pedro Algorta, survivor of the 1972 Andes plane crash, stood before us and shared the story of how he and 15 others survived horrific conditions and unimaginable odds for 72 days in the mountains.
What struck me most was Pedro’s humility. Any suggestion that he had done something extraordinary was quickly redirected. He insisted that they simply did what anyone would do to survive. They put themselves to work. They worked as a team. They focused on what needed to be done in that moment, one day at a time.
He also reflected on how mountains are a metaphor for the hardships we all face in life, and how he has faced many more since the Andes. Yet he also spoke about loving the mountains and how he still enjoys spending time in them. He said that he does not like feeling vulnerable, but that vulnerability is part of the human experience. That acceptance, and the ability to continue moving forward despite uncertainty and hardship, can help create meaning and balance.
Pedro’s presentation was one of many inspiring moments during the Edmund Rice Education Beyond Borders Congress in Montevideo and Buenos Aires, where we connected with passionate educators and leaders from around the world.
Another moving experience was visiting programs supported by Stella Maris College. On their website, they state: “We are part of the Edmund Rice family, and as members of the network, we are committed to responding to the call of the marginalized.” Their school and alumni community have put those words into action. They fund and support two youth centres and an elementary school called Santa Margarita, located in La Cruz de Carrasco.
These programs serve children and teens facing extreme poverty, trauma, and limited access to education. In communities like La Cruz de Carrasco, access to a safe and caring educational environment can not only improve lives, but likely save some as well.
Their work inspired reflection about our mission as an STMC community. The experience challenged us to ask: Can we do more, not only for our current students, but also for young people on the margins around the world who deserve opportunities to learn and thrive?
The answer was yes.
For a start, our Alumni Association has partnered with Rotary to help finish, furnish, and fill the middle floor of Santa Margarita’s new building with children by March 1, 2027, while continuing to support the needs of our own students and families.
A final thought from Pedro, who attended Stella Maris alongside most of the young men aboard that flight:
“When standing at the foot of the mountain, and it’s unclear how high it is — start walking.”
