Tag Archive : study abroad

/ study abroad

A Week in Woods Hole

June 20, 2024 | Mara Neace | No Comments

An early morning flight landed nine fellow students, Sam, and myself in Woods Hole—a small village in Massachusetts—to study marine biodiversity at the Marine Biological Laboratory during spring break. Dr. David Mark Welch, a biochemist, and Dr. Hillary Morrison, a molecular biologist and microscopist, taught our course which specifically focused on the microbial biodiversity of water sources in Woods Hole.

Throughout the week, we participated in numerous research opportunities like collecting water samples from sources throughout Woods Hole, running lab analyses like PCRs and gel electrophoresis, and performing bioinformatic analyses with VAMPS and BLAST software. At the end of the course, we presented our weeklong research to Sam, our instructors, and some MBL faculty members.

In addition to research opportunities, we were visited by guest speakers who lectured about their work and research. Some examples are Dr. Blair Paul, who presented his research on bacteriophages and marine microorganisms, and Dr. Jessica Mark Welch, who showcased her work in studying the spatial organization of microbes. We also toured two labs at the MBL, where axolotls and lampreys were used as model organisms to study brain and spinal cord regeneration. At the Marine Resources Center, we learned about various aquatic life at the MBL and saw (and also held!) horseshoe crabs, spider crabs, cancer crabs, sea anemones, and more.

When we weren’t performing research, we explored Woods Hole. Several people and I visited Coffee Obsession, a small coffee shop with amazing London Fogs, and Pie in the Sky, a local bakery with fantastic pies and pastries. We also visited the nearby beach and the waterfront park and saw beautiful views of the ocean, being sure to take photos for the calendar photo competition hosted by the MBL. We visited the gift shop, where several people bought tee shirts, axolotl plushies, and socks. On days when we were not exploring, we watched Avatar and Monsters University in the presentation room, ate meals in the dining hall, and played trivia in the common spaces.

Traveling to Woods Hole and the Marine Biological Laboratory was an incredible experience filled with amazing people, hands-on research, immersive lectures, and derpy axolotls. While the flights were long and the weather was chilly, I can’t imagine a better way to have spent my spring break.

Read More
By Gatton Academy

Costa Rica: Sea Turtles, Hammocks, and Gallo Pinto

December 7, 2023 | Lyla Wood, Study Abroad | No Comments

My first time on an airplane landed me in Liberia, the largest city in the Guanacaste Province of Costa Rica. We only spent a couple days there, but they were unforgettable. Releasing baby sea turtles back into the ocean at the Goldring-Gund Marine Biology Station was like a scene straight out of a movie. My roommate and I patrolled 8 miles of beach with the researchers at Playa Grande, scanning the sands for turtle eggs. We enjoyed gallo pinto (Costa Rican beans and rice) at Kike’s and listened to our peers give presentations on various organisms and cultural facets of Costa Rica.

Our next stop was Cloudbridge, which instantly became my favorite place in the entire world. A private nature reserve in the Talamanca mountains, the entrance of Cloudbridge sits at an elevation of 5500 feet. Here, I was assigned to my research group, which consisted of 4 students, Cheryl, Dr. Martin Stone, and his wonderful wife Jolene. Our project was Herbaceous Biodiversity in Aging Cloud Forests. We spent hours outside, counting plants and hiking mountains. When we weren’t surveying plots of land, we were shopping in San Isidro, petting Gato (the local restaurant cat), or drinking Costa Rican coffee. We presented our research at the Cloudbridge Symposium and departed for Poor Man’s Paradise.

After days of aching legs and mountain hikes, falling into a hammock and doing yoga on our balcony was a welcome reprieve. Poor Man’s Paradise is aptly named (it really is a paradise!). Every night, we drank a different type of fruit juice and spent hours at the beach. We snorkeled at Isla del Caño and toured Parque Nacional Corcovado, catching glimpses of tapirs and sharks. At one point, I fell asleep on the boat ride over, jolting awake to a breathtaking ocean view.

Our return to the United States was bittersweet, and I had never been more exhausted. Now, I always have an easy answer to the question: “If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?”

Read More
By Gatton Academy

Studying Abroad with Friends at Harlaxton

May 2, 2023 | Nishu Anekere | No Comments

As Gatton students, we have the unique opportunity to study abroad as high schoolers. This past summer, I went on the Harlaxton trip to England. Through this trip, I was able to visit a new country for three weeks while also taking care of a required English credit.

Being able to learn about English literature while in England was better than I could’ve ever imagined! Experiences like reading Shakespeare’s Sonnets one day and then visiting Shakespeare’s birthplace the next day were unforgettable.

The freedom we were given to explore the places we visited, whether we were wandering around Harlaxton Manor or sightseeing in London, was also a breath of fresh air from the traditional rigid structure of school trips.

However, the best part of Harlaxton was traveling with other Gatton students. Since only 50 students are randomly selected for the trip each year, Harlaxton creates a “subsection” of the Gatton community that may not include all your closest friends from Gatton. At Gatton, it can be easy to get caught up in friend groups that only consist of people who are on your floor, in your classes, do the same activities, and so on. As a result, you may never talk to those who don’t fall into one of the aforementioned categories. Harlaxton is a great way to “break out” of these groups and make new friends. The shared experience this small group has of attending class, working on group projects, and visiting new places together means that it becomes very close knit.

While on the trip, I found myself becoming good friends with people I’d never talked to before as we biked through the English countryside, watched The Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace, and studied for quizzes we had the next day.

Regardless of whether I was with my new or old friends, being surrounded by them while exploring everything England had to offer was what made this trip unique. While I have had great experiences traveling abroad with family, the more casual nature of hanging out with friends like it was just another weekend was something that couldn’t be beaten. Of course, the difference was that instead of going to a local theater to watch a movie, we were going to Shakespeare’s Globe to watch The Tempest!

For those of you going on the Harlaxton trip or another study abroad trip, the following are a few things to keep in mind, so you can have as much fun as I did!

Don’t just stick with the friends you already have! – It can be tempting to only hang out with your best friends on the trip, but be sure to talk to new people as well. Since you’re in a smaller group, you might as well try to get to know as many people as you can. 

Plan ahead! – You’ll be given a lot of free time at each of the places you visit on the trip. Figure out where you want to eat or what attractions you want to check out. Then, find other people who are interested in the same places. This can be a great way to meet others who share interests with you.

Branch out! – Don’t be afraid to try new things! You’re in a new country, so you should try to broaden your horizons with the new experiences that are offered. Whether it’s going to a restaurant with food you’ve never had before or going to a museum that may seem boring at first, diving into these new experiences will allow you to find new things you may enjoy and new friends along the way.

Read More
By Gatton Academy

NSLI-Y: Scholarships to Study Language Abroad

September 21, 2011 | Academics, International, News, WKU | No Comments

Are you interested in studying Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Hindi, Korean, Persian (Tajik), Russian, or Turkish while living and studying abroad this upcoming summer?  The National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) Scholarship is now open.

Previous language study is not a requirement. Students of all levels of language ability are encouraged to apply.

Eligibility Requirements:

  • U.S. citizen
  • 15 – 18 years of age at start of the program (age varies by program – read more on the Languages and Programs page)
  • Enrolled in high school  at time of application (Gap year programs available)
  • GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, or the equivalent
  • Immediate family members of individuals who work with the NSLI-Y program at the U.S. Department of State, American Councils, or one of the implementing organizations are not eligible.

The costs covered by the scholarship are:

  • Round-trip travel between the participant’s home region and the overseas host city
  • Travel from participant’s home region to the pre-departure orientation location
  • Tuition and academic materials
  • In-country support
  • Cultural activities
  • Pre-departure and re-entry orientations
  • Room and board
  • Secondary medical benefits
  • Visas

Interested?

These scholarships are very competitive, and as such, require diligent work ahead of time on one’s application.  The deadline to apply is November 3, 2011, but applicants should get started on their application in September.  If you are interested, please e-mail derick.strode@wku.edu and melinda.grimsley-smith@wku.edu to get started.

Read More
By Gatton Academy

To Boldly Go… Abroad! Gatton Academy Announces International Experiences for 2011-12

September 8, 2011 | Academics, International, News, Summer | No Comments

[fblike style=”standard” showfaces=”false” width=”450″ verb=”like” font=”arial”]

Italy, Costa Rica, and England are the destinations for this year’s Gatton Academy international experiences.  These experiences mark the fifth consecutive international travel/study series facilitated by the Gatton Academy.  Each experience is described in brief below, with full details and applications found in the online brochures.

The Gatton Academy is also excited to announce a commitment of nearly $13,000 in scholarships for students who require additional financial assistance to travel and study abroad.  Details on how to apply for international scholarships are listed below as well.

Italy

From January 4-16, 2012, up to thirty Gatton Academy students will explore the cities, culture, and history of Italy. Cities visited will include Venice, Rome, Florence, Assisi, Pompeii, Sorrento, Pisa, and Orvieto.

The cost for this year’s trip is priced at $2,250. (The overall program cost is estimated at $3,525 with the Gatton Academy supplementing $1,275 of the total cost through dedicated Winter Term funding.) This includes roundtrip airfare from Nashville, hotel accommodations in all destinations, breakfast and dinner while in Europe, admission to most historic sites and museums, and travel by chartered motor coach or train for excursions.

Full information and an application are available in the online brochure.

Students must submit a complete application, a passport-sized photograph, and an $800 nonrefundable deposit no later than Monday, October 10 to Julie Fryia in the Gatton Academy office.  The remaining nonrefundable $1450 will be due no later than Monday, November 28.  Space is limited to 30 students. Should there be an excess of interest, priority will be given to seniors first and names randomly drawn thereafter.  In that case, refunds will be distributed to those not attending.  Students must be eligible to return to the Gatton Academy for the spring semester 2012 to travel with the Italy experience.  Eligibility will be determined at the 11th week assessment.  Students deemed ineligible will forfeit their $800 initial deposit.

Costa Rica

From January 3-18, 2012, sixteen Gatton Academy students will earn upper-level Biology credit while studying and performing biodiversity research in Costa Rica. Sites visited will include Cloudbridge Nature Reserve in the cloud forest of southern Costa Rica’s mountains, Hacienda Barú on the Pacific jungle coast, a night in a jungle camp, Manuel Antonio National Park, Isla del Caño for snorkeling, the artisan town of Sarchí, and one of the world’s most active volcanos—Arenal.

The cost for the trip will be $800. (The overall program cost is $2075 with the Academy supplementing $1,275 of the total cost through dedicated Winter Term funding.) This includes roundtrip airfare from Louisville, accommodations in all destinations, an average of two daily meals, admission and fees for all items listed in the itinerary, travel by chartered motor coach, and tuition for Biology 485 — Costa Rican Biodiversity Studies and Research (3 hrs.).

Full information and an application are available in the online brochure .

The application deadline is September 16, 2011. Students must submit a complete application and a 250-word essay by the deadline to Julie Fryia in the Gatton Academy office.  Space is limited to eight males and eight females who will be selected based off of essay responses.  Equal representation of the junior and senior classes will be sought.  Students will be selected on Monday, September 26.  The $800 nonrefundable program fee is due no later than Monday, October 10.  Students must be eligible for return to the Gatton Academy in the spring semester 2012 to travel to Costa Rica.

The Harlaxton Experience

Tentative dates of July 17 – August 7, 2012 have been set for Class of 2013 students to earn English 200—Honors Introduction to Literature credit while exploring the literature and culture of the United Kingdom.  Through study, students will develop an appreciation for literary practices, theory, and concepts. Based at Harlaxton College’s beautiful manor house campus in Grantham, England, students will visit locations throughout the United Kingdom, such as Whitby for the “In Search of Dracula” ghost walk, Bath, Salisbury, Stonehenge, the Bronte Parsonage and moors in Haworth, York, the Lake District, and London (sites visited are subject to change).

The cost for the trip is being planned at $3900. (Students who participate in an unfunded Winter Term learning opportunity will carry forth $1275 of dedicated winter-term funding to apply to the cost of the program, effectively lowering the price to $2625.) This includes roundtrip airfare from the United States, accommodations in all destinations, about half of the meals while in England, admission and fees to activities, historic sites, and museums, travel by chartered motor coach or trains for excursions, and tuition for English 200 — Honors Introduction to Literature (3 hrs.).

Full information and an application are available in the online brochure.

Students must submit a complete application, passport-sized photograph, and a nonrefundable $800 deposit no later than Monday, October 10 to Julie Fryia in the Gatton Academy office.  The next nonrefundable payment of $1,000 will be due no later than Monday, November 28, and the final nonrefundable payment of $825 will be due no later than Monday, March 12, 2012.

Students interested in The Harlaxton Experience are required as a pre-requisite to have passed English 100—Intro to College Writing or have credit for English 100 through an alternate path, such as CLEP credit or by scoring a 29 or higher on the English section of the ACT exam.

Students interested in The Harlaxton Experience should not enroll in English 200 for the fall or spring semesters.  Students must be eligible for return to the Gatton Academy in the fall semester 2012 to travel with The Harlaxton Experience.

Scholarship Opportunities

The Academy will provide eight scholarships to students who require financial assistance. Two full scholarships will be provided for The Harlaxton Experience and two full scholarships will be provided for our Italy trip.  Additionally, four $800 scholarships will be provided that can be used for any of the three trips.  Students wishing to apply for one of our international scholarships must submit the following items via hard-copy to Derick Strode no later than Monday, September 26:

  1. a copy of their parents’ 2011 tax return;
  2. a parental statement of need, and;
  3. a student statement, not to exceed 500 words, describing her or his reasons for wanting to travel abroad, which destination they are interested in traveling to, as well as the impact they expect going abroad will have on their overall Gatton Academy experience.

Student scholarship selection will occur on or before Monday, October 10. Students receiving a scholarship will be required to perform community service in consultation with a staff member.

Read More
By Gatton Academy

…With International Reach: Applications Available for 2011 International Travel and Study Opportunities

August 27, 2010 | International, News, Student Life | No Comments

The 2010-11 school year is really just getting started, yet we’re excited to formally announce several opportunities for Gatton Academy students to travel and study abroad in 2011.

These experiences mark the fourth consecutive series travel/study program facilitated by the Gatton Academy during Winter Term . Students traveled to Greece in 2010, Spain and Portugal in 2009, and Italy in 2008. Even more exciting, we are proud to share the Academy will facilitate a total of three international experiences in the coming year.

Milan
Milan

The Mediterranean Experience

From January 4-11, 2011, up to thirty Gatton Academy students will explore the cities, culture, and history of some of Europe’s most famous countries. Sites visited will include Milan, Turin, Manoco, Nice, Cannes, Avignon, Montpellier, Carcassonne, and Barcelona.

The cost for this year’s trip will be $2,150. (The overall program cost is $3,350 with the Academy supplementing $1,200 of the total cost.) This includes roundtrip airfare from Nashville or Louisville, hotel accommodations in all destinations, breakfast and dinner while in Europe, admission to most historic sites and museums listed on the itinerary, and travel by chartered motor coach for excursions.

Full information and an application are available in the online brochure.

Students must submit the completed application and a $500 deposit no later than Monday, October 11. Space is limited to 30 students. Should there be an excess of interest, priority will be given to seniors first and names randomly drawn thereafter.

The Cloudbridge Nature Reserve
The Cloudbridge Nature Reserve

The Costa Rica Research Experience

From January 4-19, 2011, up to sixteen Gatton Academy students will explore the cities, culture, and history of some of Europe’s most famous countries. Sites visited will include San Jose, the San Geraro de Rivas mountain region, research in Cloudbridge Nature Reserve, a night in the jungle,Parque Marino Ballena swamp ecosystem exploration, Islla de Cano for snorkeling, the volcano at Volcan Arena.

The cost for the trip will be $775. (The overall program cost is $1975 with the Academy supplementing $1,200 of the total cost.) This includes roundtrip airfare from Nashville, accommodations in all destinations, two daily meals, admission and fees for all items listed on the itinerary, travel by chartered motor coach for excursions, and tuition for Biology 485 — Academy Field Studies in Costa Rica (3 hrs.).

Full information and an application are available in the online brochure.

The application deadline is September 17, 2010. Interviews may be required should student interest exceed capacity. A $500 nonrefundable deposit is due no later than Monday, October 11.

Harlaxton College
Harlaxton College

The Harlaxton Experience

From July 24 – August 15, 2011, Gatton Academy Class of 2012 students will explore the literature and culture of the United Kingdom while developing an appreciation for all literary practices, theory, and concepts. Students will be based at Harlaxton College and will visit locations throughout the United Kingdom. Additional Sites visited will include Whitby for a ghost walk “In Search of Dracula,Bath, Salisbury, Stonehenge, the Bronte Parsonage in Haworth, Stratford-upon-Avon, York, the Lake District, and London.

The cost for the trip will be $3700. (Should students participate in an unfunded Winter Term learning opportunity, up to $1200 may be applied to the cost of the program.) This includes roundtrip airfare from the United States, accommodations in all destinations, most meals, admission and fees for all items listed on the itinerary, travel by chartered motor coach for excursions, and tuition for English 200 — Honors Introduction to Literature (3 hrs.).

Full information and an application are available in the online brochure.

Students must submit the completed application and a $700 deposit no later than Monday, October 11.

Additional Scholarship Opportunities

The Academy will provide a limited number of scholarships to students who require financial assistance. Students wishing to apply for this scholarship must submit the following items no later than Monday, September 27: a copy of their parents’ 2010 tax return, a parental statement of need, and a student statement describing his or her reasons for wanting to travel abroad as well as the impact of their overall Gatton Academy experience. Student selection will occur on or before Monday, October 11. Students receiving the scholarship will be required to perform community service in consultation with a staff member.

Please direct any additional questions to Tim Gott or Derick Strode.

Read More
By Corey Alderdice

[Greece 10] Video Blog: Becca and Zac Wrap Up the Trip with a Little Shopping

January 12, 2010 | International, News, People, Video | No Comments

[Greece 10] Video Blog: Becca and Zac Wrap Up the Trip With a Little Shopping from Gatton Academy on Vimeo.

With only hours remaining in the trip, we check in with a pair of Academy students about the stores they’ve shopped at and items bought along the way. Some have been great, where others were what the kids refer to as “sketch”.

Read More
By Corey Alderdice