Altamont ? Brett Carlson’s Spanish classes at Labette County High School here were always so full students had to wait until their sophomore year to get in, because so many upperclassmen wanted to take them.

The popular 26-year-old teacher and a student were missing Monday after being swept away by currents at a Costa Rican beach, where the group of Labette students were relaxing during a language immersion trip.

The body of Danielle Tongier, 18, who graduated from the school last year, was found Saturday. The next day, searchers found the body of Andrew Harpstrite, a 17-year-old junior at Labette.

The two teens, along with junior Jessica Pierce, 17, apparently got in trouble while swimming off Palo Seco beach, near the town of Parrita, about 180 miles south of the Costa Rican capital of San Jose. Carlson reportedly jumped in to try to save them.

Pierce and Carlson still were missing Monday, as Altamont residents awaited the group’s return.

Costa Rican Red Cross workers search for U.S. tourists swept out to sea near Parrita, Costa Rica. Two Kansas teenagers died and two others from the same town remained missing Monday after they were swept away by currents while swimming at a Pacific Coast beach in Costa Rica.

Grief counselors were available at the high school.

Carlson, school officials said, saw the trip as a way to further his students’ skills in the Spanish language.

“This is the first year they have gone,” said assistant superintendent Chris Kastler. “He has always been hesitant to do it because of the risk of things. To really learn the language they need to be in that culture – speaking it, be immersed in it.”

While in college, Carlson had studied some in Costa Rica and taken a couple of trips down there. “He felt comfortable going to Costa Rica,” Kastler said.

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius released a statement Monday offering her prayers and sympathy to the family, friends and community of the students.

“This loss of life is devastating to Southeast Kansas and the entire state, and I urge all Kansans to keep those impacted by this tragedy in their thoughts and prayers,” Sebelius said.

Eleven students, Carlson and another chaperone had been in the country since June 6, and students saved money all year for the trip. All who went will be seniors this coming school year or were recent graduates.

Pierce was a lifeguard at the local pool, Kastler said. She also was a swimmer and a cheerleader.

Tongier, who graduated this spring, was active in the school’s drama department. Her mother accompanied the school group down to Costa Rica as a sponsor.

Harpstrite was a “really great kid – always polite, always had a smile,” Kastler said.

He described Carlson as “an outstanding teacher, an outstanding person” who taught 120 students in his Spanish classes each year. The Labette County school has about 600 students.

Some parents met the flight from Costa Rica in Houston, and flew with the returning students to Tulsa, Okla., the nearest airport, where they were to be met by most of the other parents, counselors and school officials.