When Samford University opened Finca de Samford in Costa Rica this winter, leaders envisioned more than a study center. They imagined a home away from home, where students could reflect, serve and experience God at work in the world.
For sophomore computer science major Ella Madalinski, that vision immediately sparked innovation.
As a member of the first student cohort at Finca de Samford—a 10,000-square-foot estate on 14 acres near Ciudad Colón—Madalinski is developing a mobile app designed to help future students navigate life at the Costa Rica study center before they even board the plane.
“I was inspired to build this app from experiencing the need for it myself,” Madalinski said. “Being a part of the first cohort means figuring things out as we go."
Her app will provide practical tips and recommendations for future groups—what to pack, helpful Costa Rican slang, restaurant suggestions and insights about daily life in a small city on the outskirts of San Jose. The goal is simple: to help the next cohort arrive already steps ahead of where the inaugural group began.
Madalinski's experiences are directly shaping the app’s development. With each new excursion, service opportunity or cultural interaction, new ideas emerge. The project has naturally taken on a collaborative dimension among the cohort.
“We can all experience the same thing but feel entirely different about it,” Madalinski said. “That way, the app isn’t bogged down by any biases I may have.”
One student suggested linking volunteer opportunities to local organizations. Another is contributing photography to enhance the platform’s visual storytelling. Together, their work reflects the interdisciplinary and community-centered spirit of Finca de Samford.
Technically, the project has stretched Madalinski beyond her comfort zone. She is building the app using React Native, a platform she had not previously used. Under the guidance of Brian Toone, assistant professor of computer science in Samford’s Howard College of Arts and Sciences, she has navigated the challenges of learning a new framework while balancing classes and cultural immersion.
“It’s a large time commitment,” she said. “I’ve learned better time management while also balancing coursework and excursions and still having some time to spend with my Finca family.”
University leaders envisioned Finca de Samford as a space for academic exploration and spiritual reflection, situated in the hills overlooking Ciudad Colón and neighboring a national forest and coffee farm. For Madalinski, it has also become a launchpad for creativity and service.
Students interested in joining the Fall 2026 Finca de Samford cohort can learn more and apply through Samford Abroad. The program offers immersive academic, service and cultural experiences in Costa Rica designed to complement students’ coursework with hands-on global engagement.
Experiences like Madalinski’s reflect the strength of Samford’s commitment to hands-on, globally engaged learning—an impact recognized nationally in the 2026 Wall Street Journal/College Pulse Best Colleges rankings, where Samford earned a Top 10 distinction for student learning opportunities.
