By Geoffrey Sorensen
Students who spent their summer studying overseas reunited Monday for the first time since their return home.
Professor Maria Fixell, coordinator of the Study Abroad program for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences said the Welcome Back Reception, “Is an opportunity for the students to relive and share their experiences.”
The Summer 2004 Study Abroad program took students to one of five countries: Australia, Chile, Spain, Italy and France.
The main event of the reception was the announcement of the winners of the photo contest called “HCLAS Reflections Abroad.” Students were encouraged to submit three photos from their time spent overseas in the categories, “Crossing Cultures,” “People and Portraits,” “Defining Moment” and “Sensational Sites and Landscapes.”
This year 82 photos were submitted and judged. They were recently on display for two weeks in an exhibit on the first floor of the Axinn Library.
Grand prize, second place and third place winners in each of the four categories were awarded with $100, $75 and $50, respectively. Honorable mentions were also recognized.
Winners were encouraged to talk about their photos and explain what was going on as they were snapping away.
Fixell said she enjoyed looking through the submissions.
“I think everyone who submitted photos is a winner,” she said.
Edith Richiez, a junior political science major who won third place in the “People and Portraits” category, spoke of her experience in Australia.
“It was magnificent,” she said. “It was so much fun and everybody was so nice.”
Richiez’s group hiked the first week, went snorkeling and scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland and spent some time in Sydney.
Richiez said she chose Australia over the other countries offered because of its location.
“It was the farthest away and was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” she said. She recommends the program to other students at the University.
Rima Nayberg, a marketing junior, spent several weeks studying in Italy. Staying in Sorrento was her favorite part because it felt “homey” and not like a big city.
“I would definitely do it again,” Nayberg said. She suggested, however, prospective students take the courses on a pass/fail basis because the workload was too much.
Tina Gallo, a secondary education Italian senior, enjoyed life in Italy.
“It was great because you would go to class and then go to one of the wineries after,” she said. She also enjoyed going to the cheese shops and to the beaches.
Gallo recalled making an American apple pie and her neighbors were eager to taste it for the first time.
“The people of Italy were very friendly,” Gallo said. “Italian people are very loving.”
The summer program offers students the ability to take two classes for a total of six credits over a period of five weeks. The January session lasts three weeks and students may take one three-credit course. This January, Study Abroad will go to Venice, Athens and London.