Nespresso Calls for Student Applications for 2007 Summer Campus Program in Costa Rica
What goes into producing the perfect cup of coffee? Twenty students will soon have the chance to find out first-hand as Nespresso, the pioneer in premium-portioned coffee, is accepting applications for its first Summer Campus Program in Costa Rica.

The two-week program takes participants far beyond the classroom, enabling them to experience the power of sustainable cultivation of highest quality coffee in one of the world's premier countries of origin.

From rainforest to farmland, students will learn about how the Nespresso AAA Sustainable Quality(TM) Program improves the overall quality of life for coffee farmers and their communities.

"There is a growing interest among our Club Members and consumers, in general, to better understand where their food comes from. Our Summer Campus Program is a unique invitation for students to not only be brought closer to the coffee experience at origin, but also to explore the benefits of producing highest quality sustainable coffee," said Gerhard Berssenbrugge, CEO, Nestle Nespresso.

"In conjunction with our partners in Costa Rica, we are initiating this inaugural program, set in an interactive and dynamic environment, to enable tomorrow's generation to better understand how the broad topic of sustainability can impact their lives now and well into the future."

A traditional university campus, eco-friendly lodges, coffee plantations, wet milling centers, botanical gardens, rainforests, waterfalls and beaches will provide the backdrop for diverse daily adventures.

Through an interactive syllabus, students will be actively involved in everything from coffee-picking, tree-planting, coffee tasting and wildlife excursions. Throughout the two weeks, students will work together in groups on sustainable quality themed projects. At the end of the experience, they will make final presentations to a panel of experts and receive certificates as recognition for their accomplishments.

Under the tutelage of local experts from Nespresso and the Rainforest Alliance, a leading NGO collaborating with the Company on its AAA Sustainable Quality(TM) Program, students will explore topics including highest quality coffee farming, sustainable growing techniques, beneficial business practices, bio-diversity and eco-tourism. Academic partner institutions such as the INCAE, the leading Latin American Business School, and CATIE Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center will also play key roles and work closely with the students.

University students between the ages of 18-28 can apply online by visiting http://www.nespresso-aaa-campus.com/ and completing the online application. Fluency in English and an interest in coffee and the area of sustainable development are requirements for participation. The 20 finalists will be mailed official invitations to attend the Summer Campus Program.

As one of the most bio-diverse regions of the world, Costa Rica is also the ultimate environment in which to experience sustainability. The country covers 0.03 percent of the earth's surface, yet comprises 12 distinct ecosystems, combined with the greatest diversity of plants on the planet. For over one and a half centuries, the temperate climate, altitude and rich volcanic soils have enabled local farmers to grow some of the world's highest quality coffee beans.