The Church in the Plaza of San Vicente sustained damage from the earthquake that hit Chile a few weeks ago. (Photo provided by Jeremy Cunningham)

PARKERSBURG — A Parkersburg man who spent time in Chile before and after the recent earthquake believes the country will prevail over the damage brought on by the disaster. Jeremy Cunningham, 23, had been in the South American country since August, teaching English to students in grades 9-12 at Colegio Santa Ines, a Catholic school in San Vicente de Tagua Tagua. He also helped to recruit prospective teachers for the Volunteach program through the Council For International Educational Exchange. Cunningham, who is a 2005 graduate of Parkersburg High School and a 2009 graduate of Marietta College, has taken Spanish since the seventh grade and all through high school and majored in it in college (along with international business). He also has spent time studying in Peru. He was in Chile when a magnitude 8.8 earthquake hit the central region on Feb. 27. However, he was sightseeing in the northern part of the country, near Calama, and missed the brunt of the disaster.