Since 2015, twelve (12) Honors students have received a total of $35K in Honors study abroad scholarships for study in Denmark, England, France, Italy, and Mexico. Application materials for 2019 scholarships will be sent to Honors students in early December.

Today’s bloggers are Honors students Christa Soyars ’20 (Public Health / PSY) and Victoria Penna ’19 (BIO / PSY). Both are recipients of 2018 Honors study abroad scholarships and both are studying in Italy this very month! Read on . . .

After living in Sansepolcro for three weeks, I was reminded about how important it is to surround yourself with a community of supportive and encouraging people. From the moment I arrived, I felt so welcomed by everyone I met in this tight-knit community.

Each week, we were fortunate to spend time learning about the Italian language, food, and festivals from a group of locals. From figuring out how to properly taste olive oil to watching the traditional Sbandieratori flag show, it was evident that the people of Sansepolcro truly care about each other, their community, and their culture.

During our travel break, I ventured off to nearby Siena. Learning how to travel independently was a liberating experience I will never forget! I feel grateful to have had the opportunity to travel all around Italy and realize how fortunate I am to have found a supportive community at Meredith College.

–Christa Soyars

This summer I was granted the opportunity to be a part of the Exploring Cultures Through Service program in Italy.  I had such an amazing experience while abroad.  I visited new cities, served in the community, tasted almost every gelato flavor, made

fantastic new friends, and so much more.

This was an experience I had been contemplating pursuing for a long time, and I am so thankful that I didn’t let my worries prevent me from missing out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.  Studying abroad gave me greater confidence as well as a global perspective that I would not have gained otherwise.

I am so thankful for the Honors Program, not only for awarding me with a scholarship to make this dream a reality, but also for molding me into a strong student able to take on the academic challenge of completing a three-week course while abroad.

–Victoria Penna

Coming later this year: a blog from Paris by Honors student Caroline Garrett and a couple more from London by Honors senior Mary Kolisnichenko.