WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., Feb. 13, 2020 — Two West Liberty University students were named winners recently in a contest sponsored by the Internationalization Committee, entitled “How Do You Study Abroad.” The contest asked students to submit creative work based on recent study abroad trips.
“Mason Haer and Kendahl Stanley won first and second place (respectively) in the contest,” said Study Abroad Coordinator Dr. Felipe Rojas. “There was only one vote difference between winners.” All students had a chance to vote online for their favorite entry.
Online submissions included photos, videos and creative writing.
Both of the contest winners participated in the “Politics of Brexit” trip, led by Dr. Brian Fitzpatrick in the summer of 2019. Fitzpatrick is an assistant professor of political science and students enjoyed international lessons and visited Dublin, Ireland; London, England and Brussels, Belgium.
Haer is a business major and senior. He received an iPad mini for his first place image of the inside of Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Ireland’s tallest church.
Social Studies Education major Kendahl Stanley, a junior from Wheeling, won second place and received an Echo Dot as her prize for her photo of Dublin’s colorful Umbrella Alley.
Haer previously traveled with WLU’s study abroad programs, but it was the first trip for Stanley.
Both students and Rojas agree that participating in a study abroad is a life-changing experience that is beneficial and one that students should definitely take advantage of when given the opportunity.
“I don’t think that students know the kind of opportunities that are out there through West Liberty,” said Rojas, who is a native of Chile. His duties as a study abroad coordinator include providing students with support, information and encouragement in regards to studying abroad.
West Liberty University’s study abroad program, available to both undergraduate and graduate students, has been available for a number of years. The program encourages students to study abroad during both academic and summer semesters and students are given a variety of trips to choose from.
Upcoming study abroad opportunities, locations and educational focus include:
Spring 2020
Paris, France; Lisbon, Portugal; Madrid, Spain (Humanistic Experience)
Costa Rica (Zoo Science and Applied Conservation)
Summer 2020
London, England; Paris, France (Art History)
United Kingdom (History of the British Isles)
South Korea (Studio Media/Visual Communications)
Barcelona, Spain; Casablanca, Morocco (Business)
To find out more about study abroad opportunities or to offer suggestions on future study abroad locations, please contact Rojas at felipe.rojas@westliberty.edu or visit the Internationalization Committee webpage.