Discovering Cambodia's Banteay Srei

Currently serving as the president of Windsor Securities Inc. in Pennsylvania, Steven Prusky received his bachelor's degree with honors) in computer science and cognitive science from Brown University. An avid traveler, Steven Prusky has been to several countries, including Cambodia.

Despite its chilling history filled with bloodshed and political instability, Cambodia has come to be one of Southeast Asia's greatest treasures. Once the seat of the Khmer empire which extended from Laos to Vietnam, Cambodia now houses some of the most spectacular vestiges of the Angkorian period. These vestiges come in the form of temples which are considered to be peerless in the entire Southeast Asian region. The most famous example is the Angkor Wat, revered by many as the pinnacle of Khmer genius.

No other temple in Cambodia can match Angkor Wat in size, but other smaller temples have been known to match up in stature. One of these is Banteay Srei which has been ranked by Lonely Planet as the top sight in Cambodia. Literally translating to "Citadel of the Women," Banteay Srei is an art gallery dedicated to the Hindu goddess Shiva and is renowned for its intricate three-dimensional carvings. Construction began in 967 AD, and the small temple stands out as one of the few commissioned by a brahman rather than by a king. For its fine, feminine details, Banteay Srei is regarded as the crown jewel of Angkorian art.

SCA Gap Year Programs for Young Adults

 

Discretionary money manager Steven Prusky is the president and owner of Windsor Securities, Inc., and MFIP, Inc. in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. Beyond his work as a registered investment advisor, Steven Prusky supports organizations in whose causes he believes, including Rescue Task Force and the Student Conservation Association.

The Student Conservation Association (SCA) is an environmental and community organization geared towards preparing youths and young adults for careers in the field of conservation. Young adults interested in gaining environmental experience can visit www.thesca.org to learn about a variety of SCA programs, such as gap year opportunities.

SCA gap year programs are ideal for recent high school graduates who would like to gain environmental field experience prior to pursuing an advanced degree. Gap year programs are, of course, also open to high school graduates who do not intend to study environmentalism or conservation in college.

Gap year opportunities are available across virtually all SCA locations and areas of operation, ranging from team projects to individual assignments. In addition to field experience, participants can gain valuable networking contacts, including some of the field’s most active government agencies and not-for-profits.