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Students Study in Greece and Italy with Help of Scholarships
As global studies majors, NWACC students Gabrielle Lampson and Bradi Matlock are required to study abroad – a requirement that quickly turned into intellectual and cultural adventures this summer.
NWACC student Gabrielle in Greece.
NWACC student Bradi in Italy.
Gabrielle enrolled in a world civilization course with NWACC Professor Sevin Gallo, and learned of ancient Greece, its politics and economics, and its impact on the modern Mediterranean world, while also enjoying 14 days of planned excursions around Athens and the Greek islands.
“We spent a lot of time visiting archaeological sites and museums. One thing that is super important when understanding another culture is learning about the history that shaped it into what it is today,” Gabrielle said. “Another aspect of culture we focused on was the food. Sevin made sure that each of her students was able to experience Mediterranean cuisine in its entirety. Along with visits to historical sites, we took day trips to little mountain towns, beaches and islands. It was an educational trip, but every day was full of fun things to do.”
Athens, Greece.
Photo credit: Gabrielle Lampson
“My favorite part of the trip was immersing myself in the Greek culture. Whether it was the food, the people, the language, the big city vibe in Athens, or the dodging of crazy drivers in the street, Greece was the ultimate experience. Walking the same path of famous Greek philosophers and architects was completely unreal,” Gabrielle added.
Greek islands.
Photo credit: Gabrielle Lampson
For the month of June, Bradi participated in the NWACC in Italy study abroad program located in Siena. She enrolled in a photography course, taught by NWACC Professor Victor Chalfant and an Italian course, taught by a Siena professor. Classes took place at the Università per Stranieri di Siena, a NWACC partner. She spent many of her weekends and free time exploring other historic areas of Italy as well.
“I gained so much knowledge about the Italian culture and the history of Italy. I learned how to take memorable photos and speak in Italian…I spent time in one of the most historical places on earth and gained a new appreciation for Italy and its people,” Badi said. “Every weekend, we traveled to a different part of Italy: Rome, Florence, Cinque Terre, Venice. Each city held a unique piece about them. Rome had the most historic sites, Florence was so beautiful at night with the city lights, Cinque Terre’s architecture and beaches were mysterious and incredible, Venice was every girl’s dream!”
Venice, Italy
Photo credit: Bradi Matlock
Both students were awarded study abroad scholarships through the NWACC Foundation, which helped pay for their expenses. Scholarship funding is raised through the foundation’s community travel opportunities. These guided trips are open to the public, and included in the trip costs is a generous donation toward study abroad scholarships for NWACC students.
Receiving a scholarship gave Gabrielle a sense of ease when paying for an educational experience abroad. “Traveling can cost a lot of money, so the scholarship definitely lifted a great weight off my shoulders on the financial side,” she said. “It is so heartwarming to know there are community members that support students studying abroad. Being able to study a subject in the place where it became textbook worthy is a dream... I am so thankful that there were people out there to make that experience a reality for me.”
Earning a scholarship also made an impact on Bradi’s ability to travel and study in Europe. “The scholarship helped tremendously! I have a goal to never take out student loans, so this helped me reach my goal,” she said. “I am so grateful for those who have donated not just to my scholarship, but to everyone’s. I can’t stress enough how relieved I was to have that money in my pocket to support me in Italy. It really took a lot of stress off my back…and I could buy a couple souvenirs for my family!"
Venice, Italy.
Photo credit: Bradi Matlock
Now that they've completed their courses abroad, Gabrielle and Bradi strongly encourage others to experience learning and living outside the states, even if it's only for weeks at a time.
“I recommend that other students study abroad. There is so much more to this world than what we see every day, and the only way to truly understand what lies beyond American life is to be in another country. Reading about something is nothing compared to living in it,” said Gabrielle.
“I would recommend studying abroad to students and the public in general. I think we could all learn something important about humanity if we traveled. Not just traveling, but living and experiencing cultures from around the world. I think we need to take time away from our busy lives and realize we are all in this together, and that we are not that different,” added Bradi.
There’s a Place for You Here.
Visit nwacc.edu or call 479-986-4000 to learn more about studying abroad and choosing a higher education with NWACC.