Study Abroad

North Toward Success

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 14:44:28 +0000

North Toward Success BBENSON@bridgew.edu Wed, 06/05/2024 - 10:44

Junior receives Fulbright fellowship to fund semester in Canada

June 6, 2024

Brian Benson, G'23

Genna Symonds, ’25, is heading north of the border. Thanks to a prestigious fellowship, Genna will study in Canada, a country that she dreams of one day calling home.

Genna is among approximately 10 U.S. students receiving a Fulbright award through the Killam Fellowships Program to travel to Canada during the upcoming academic year.

“It’s really rewarding and amazing that they picked me,” said Genna, who is from Groveland and will attend the University of Ottawa for the fall semester. “I’m very excited.”

BSU is one of the program's 16 founding partners among American universities. Administered by Fulbright Canada, Killam fellowships support American undergraduates studying in Canada and Canadian students attending college in the U.S. Several Bridgewater students previously received fellowships and BSU regularly hosts Canadian students.

“It’s a very prestigious award. It’s a highly selective process,” said Dr. Andrew Holman, a history professor who coordinates the Canadian Studies program. “It’s a real feather in our cap.”

Holman said Bridgewater’s Killam success speaks to the quality of BSU students – and Genna is no exception.

“She strikes me as a self-starter, someone who doesn’t need a lot of prodding,” said Holman, who also highlighted her self-confidence. “She’s going to make a great ambassador for Bridgewater State.”

Genna praised Holman’s guidance in reviewing a personal statement she wrote for the fellowship application process. Study Abroad Coordinator Emma Lynch and part-time Canadian Studies faculty member Eric Weeks also provided invaluable support, Genna said.

“Bridgewater as a school has amazing opportunities,” she said. “It’s clear that they care about their students and want to set them up to succeed.”

Although Genna has family living in Canada and previously visited the country, this will be a unique experience.

“When they hear Canada, people think it’s just like America. But there are a lot of differences,” said Genna, who will be studying at a French-English bilingual university. “I’m excited to learn more French.”

At the University of Ottawa, she will take classes in criminal justice and political science (her BSU major and minor, respectively), as well as film.

She also plans to join clubs, just as she has done at Bridgewater. Genna served as an orientation leader and is a member of BSU Dance Company. She works for the EXCEL Program and is part of Best Buddies, two organizations that support people with intellectual disabilities and have shaped her career interests.

Genna is eager to explore Ottawa’s cultural attractions and historic government buildings and travel within Canada. The fellowship offers a mobility grant in addition to the main $6,000 award, which Genna said makes studying abroad possible without adding an extra financial burden on her family.

“It’s a really big honor and exciting that I get to represent Bridgewater in another country,” she said.

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

Bridgewater as a school has amazing opportunities. It’s clear that they care about their students and want to set them up to succeed.

Genna Symonds, ’25

Tags

Fulbright

Study Abroad

Photo by Grace Small

‘Born to be a Bear’

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 15:05:48 +0000

‘Born to be a Bear’ BBENSON@bridgew.edu Wed, 04/17/2024 - 11:05

Twins follow in parents’ footsteps on campus

April 18, 2024

Brian Benson, G'23

Kelsey and Elisabeth Sweeney’s earliest memories of Bridgewater State come from family car rides when their parents drove through campus to reminisce about their meeting in Shea-Durgin Residence Hall.

The Sweeney twins didn’t realize they would one day also call Shea-Durgin home, but they knew there was something special about Bridgewater.

“I always say, ‘I was born to be a Bear,’” Kelsey said.

The Sweeney family’s connection to BSU began in the late 1980s, when parents Michelle, ’91, and Larry met through friends on campus. Three decades later, their daughters are on the verge of earning their own BSU degrees next month.

“I’m so proud of them and what they’ve accomplished,” Michelle said. “It’s been really nice to go through this all over again. You wish you were back in college.”

Michelle and Larry’s relationship grew and persisted even when Larry left school to serve in the military and later work in IT.

“One of the most important things that you learn in college, especially living there, is how to get along with people who are different than you,” Larry said of what he took away from Bridgewater.

Michelle earned a social work degree and pursued a varied career that included human resources work and numerous roles within the Marshfield Public Schools. No matter the job title, she relied on her ability to help others, a skill honed in social work classes.

“I felt like Bridgewater really prepared you to go out into the real world,” she said. “It’s one of the reasons I wanted Kelsey to go to Bridgewater.”

Kelsey discovered that benefit as a social work major herself. Having excelled at an internship at the Boys and Girls Club in Brockton, she landed a post-graduation job running a mental health program at the club’s Marshfield location. She’s also going to pursue a master’s degree in social work from BSU.

Outside of the classroom, Kelsey followed her mom into Greek life: Michelle helped found Bridgewater’s Phi Sigma Sigma chapter while Kelsey joined Gamma Phi Beta.

“You can find a community anywhere in Bridgewater, and that instantly created a new home for me,” Kelsey said. “The sense of community on campus is what draws me here.”

It also attracted her sister to BSU as a transfer student. Elisabeth initially went to school in Boston, but she had to live alone in a dorm room due to the pandemic. Seeking companionship, Elisabeth often FaceTimed Kelsey, who had a roommate at BSU and introduced her sister to her college friends.

“We tried to go our own different paths, but we love doing things together,” said Elisabeth, a communication studies major minoring in film and digital media. “We both push each other to strive to be our best every day.”

Elisabeth, who is on the cross country and track teams, is also a member of Gamma Phi Beta. Like her sister, she studied abroad multiple times in Europe.

Elisabeth is moving to Italy after graduation to work in marketing for a travel agency – a connection built through a semester abroad in the country.

While an ocean will soon separate the twins, there’s one place that will always bring the Sweeney family together: BSU.

“It’s nice to have a second home for all of us,” Kelsey said.

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

I felt like Bridgewater really prepared you to go out into the real world. It’s one of the reasons I wanted Kelsey to go to Bridgewater.

Michelle Sweeney, '91

Tags

Student Spotlight

Alumni Profile

Study Abroad

Broadening Horizons

HHARRIS@bridgew.edu — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 14:30:11 +0000

Broadening Horizons HHARRIS@bridgew.edu Wed, 09/27/2023 - 10:30

First-ever graduate student study abroad class a success

September 28, 2023

Heather Harris Michonski

As she walked the streets of Lisbon, Portugal, this summer, there were moments when Jennifer Mederios, G’24, felt a sense of disbelief: It was hard to accept she was so many miles from home.

“As we get older, we don’t have as many opportunities, but the learning you get from going abroad is very different than learning in a classroom,” said Jennifer, who is working toward her master’s degree in social work.

Jennifer, and 17 other 51�Թ�� graduate students from across all disciplines, made the journey to Portugal as part of a graduate-level course called Leadership and Wellness. It is the first-ever graduate-only study abroad program BSU has offered.

The trip was partially funded by the David B. Jenkins Graduate Research Initiative Endowed Fund.

Jennifer also received a social justice award to help partially fund her expenses from The Home for Little Wanderers, where she works as a program director.

During their time in Portugal, students visited organizations to learn more about the country’s social services and mental health offerings, and how they compare to those in the United States.

They also soaked in the local culture, cuisine, museums, and even spontaneously snuck in a Harry Styles concert.

“There was such a sense of belonging with our group,” Jennifer said. “I think there is a different maturity for graduate students, the energy isn’t so much about being in another country, but about learning together. It was just a great experience.”

The program is the brainchild of Dr. Lisa Boehm, dean of graduate studies, and Assistant Director of Graduate Studies Dr. Ally McVickar.

“We’ve been brainstorming unique ways to build community with graduate students who have very busy schedules and spend limited time on campus,” McVickar said. “Last fall we reached out to Study Abroad and found out that an all-graduate student course hadn’t been done before, we had to try.”

In creating the program, Boehm said, they wanted the students to develop connections around the world, global knowledge, and an intercultural skillset.

“All three are crucially important in today’s world,” she said. “Often students from less affluent backgrounds cannot compete with this type of global fluency on the job market when they go up against graduates who may have had the resources to support ample international travel opportunities.”

What they also found in creating the course is BSU graduate students are hungry for study abroad opportunities. After sending out a student survey to gauge the interest level, more than 100 responses arrived within the first 48 hours.

Inspired, Boehm and McVickar worked with staffers from the Minnock Institute, Study Abroad, the Educational Leadership Department and others to pull it all together.

Once the program became available for applications the response was overwhelmingly positive, so much so, a waitlist had to be created.

“We weren’t sure how many students were going to sign up, but I think it shows there is a desire for graduate study abroad opportunities,” said graduate studies Associate Director Katie-Ann Mason, who accompanied the group on the trip as a chaperone. “It was a hugely successful, engaging trip. Not just from an academic standpoint, but culturally as well. Some students have even shared it was life-changing, a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Jennifer would agree, the trip was indeed impactful.

“This experience has truly inspired me to not be afraid to try new things,” she said. “I hope BSU is able to offer more opportunities like this in the future.”

According to Boehm, the goal is to create similar programs that cover a variety of topics and appeal to a wide range of students.

“We plan to offer this opportunity, or one like it, every other year. We hope that students can plan for adding this experience to their curriculum,” she said.

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu

As we get older, we don’t have as many opportunities, but the learning you get from going abroad is very different than learning in a classroom.

Jennifer Mederios, G’24

Tags

Graduate Studies

Study Abroad

Travel Opportunities

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Wed, 10 Aug 2022 15:13:09 +0000

Travel Opportunities BBENSON@bridgew.edu Wed, 08/10/2022 - 11:13

Scholarship allows students to study overseas

August 11, 2022

Brian Benson

There’s perhaps no better place to learn a foreign language than somewhere it is roundly spoken. And Spanish major Raphaella Pastos, ’24, will have just such a transformative study abroad experience with support from a national scholarship.

Raphaella, of Ipswich, is one of a record seven 51�Թ�� students who received Gilman Scholarships to help fund their educational travel experiences in the upcoming academic year.

“It relieves a big amount of stress,” said Raphaella, who will spend the fall semester in Seville, Spain. “I was worried because I wouldn’t be able to work while abroad.”

She can worry no more. The scholarship, which is administered by the U.S. Department of State, supports undergraduates who might not otherwise participate in study abroad or an international internship because of financial constraints.

“The scholarship helps more than I have words to express,” said Barbara Dickey, ’23, a psychology and communication sciences and disorders major who will travel to Rome for the fall semester. “I’m able to go a little bit more stress free knowing my finances are in a better place.”

BSU students’ success came as the scholarship’s acceptance rate decreased from 25 percent a few years ago to 15 percent, said Emma Lynch, a study abroad coordinator who runs a program to support students applying for the funding

“It’s astounding what we were able to do,” Lynch said. “The Gilman Scholarship has only gotten more competitive.”

Barbara and Raphaella praised the support of Lynch and other study abroad employees. They helped with logistics and offered advice on writing a strong application essay.

“I cannot express how helpful they were throughout the whole process,” Barbara said. “I wouldn’t have been able to do it without them.”

Barbara hopes to explore her Italian heritage with her twin sister, Emily, who is also spending the semester in Italy. Barbara will take psychology classes at John Cabot University, affording her the opportunity to experience how scholars in a different country approach the field.

Raphaella, who is also an elementary education major, aspires to teach in a bilingual program. She will gain relevant real-world experience by interning at a bilingual school while she’s in Seville.

Raphaella, who learned to speak Greek from her family, previously traveled to Greece. But this will be her first international journey alone.

“I’m really excited to be in a new country and a new culture and to just really experience everything,” she said.

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

Tags

Study Abroad

On the Road Again

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Wed, 06 Jul 2022 15:16:35 +0000

On the Road Again BBENSON@bridgew.edu Wed, 07/06/2022 - 11:16

International student-teaching and study abroad programs mark return

July 7, 2022

Brian Benson

The world is once again a classroom for 51�Թ�� students.

Graduate and undergraduate students recently completed travel courses and student-teaching in Europe, South America and Africa. Their journeys marked the return of both programs after the suspension of in-person international activities due to the pandemic.

They are among more than 200 programs offered by the Study Abroad Office.

Two returning students recently shared their experiences.

Cultural Lessons

When she becomes a social worker, Cassandra DeMotte, ’24, hopes to serve people from a variety of backgrounds. After spending two weeks experiencing life in Morocco, Cassandra has a better appreciation of those cultural differences.

“It’s so important for students to get out and see the world and experience a totally different way of living,” said Cassandra, a Blackstone resident majoring in social work and minoring in psychology and Spanish.

Cassandra participated in a summer travel course to Morocco led by Drs. Jabbar Al-Obaidi and Madhu Rao. Eleven students spent two weeks in the African country touring the coastal city of Casablanca and venturing inland to Fes, which is regarded as the country’s cultural capital.

They met with Justice Rachida Hlimi, president of the Tribunal de Commerce Fes; observed preliminary court proceedings; and met the court deputy for the Moroccan king. Students also visited homes and a miles-long market, where they saw dishes, bags, clothing, and other wares being made by hand.

While traveling, Cassandra researched mental health. She was impressed by the availability of services and how seriously the problem is taken.

“There’s not a stigma around mental health in Morocco like there is here in the U.S.,” she said. “In Morocco, they’re very open.”

Cassandra hopes to pursue another travel course and a semester-long study abroad experience before graduating.

Travel courses, she said, build connections with professors and students from different majors.

“We left Logan Airport as strangers,” she said. “We became so close throughout the trip. I would say we are best friends.”

A Dream Fulfilled

Gretchen Sandstrum, ’22, long knew she wanted to student teach abroad. In fact, it’s a major reason she chose to attend Bridgewater State.

Gretchen achieved her dream by working at Colegio Menor, a private international school in Quito, Ecuador. She taught to second graders lessons on currency and long vowel sounds, and used her native English to demonstrate proper pronunciation.

“I think it’s an amazing opportunity,” said Gretchen, who is from Norwood and studied elementary education, special education and Spanish. “It definitely sets you apart from other teacher candidates because it is so unique.”

Eight student teachers traveled abroad in the spring. They learned to think creatively and embrace change, two skills that will be essential in their future careers, special education Professor Robert MacMillan said.

“It’s a life-changing experience for these students,” said Dr. MacMillan, the faculty fellow for international initiatives.

Gretchen, who also student taught in first grade at Kingston Elementary School, forged connections between the Kingston and Quito classes. Students wrote to each other and met via video conference.

Kingston students created pocket-sized drawings of themselves that Gretchen took with her on Ecuadorean adventures. She sent photos of their journey back to Kingston.

During her eight weeks abroad, Gretchen jumped over the equator, hiked near Quilotoa Lagoon in the Andes Mountains, and met a llama on Pichincha Volcano.

“To be able to immerse yourself into a different culture is incredible,” she said. “Getting to experience different school settings and the way different teachers teach makes you a better teacher.”

It’s so important for students to get out and see the world and experience a totally different way of living.

Cassandra DeMotte, ’24

Tags

Study Abroad

Teaching Ukrainian Refugees

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Wed, 11 May 2022 14:42:13 +0000

Teaching Ukrainian Refugees BBENSON@bridgew.edu Wed, 05/11/2022 - 10:42

BSU student-teachers educate youngest victims of war

May 12, 2022

Brian Benson

More than 28,000 Ukrainians have fled to Ireland since late February when Russia invaded their country. In Dublin, Erin Haley, G’22, and Adlai Greene, ’22, taught some of the youngest victims of the war.

The 51�Թ�� students recently worked with the refugees during an eight-week international student-teaching experience.

“It’s hard in the moment to process what has happened, that these children have experienced war,” Erin said. “Even though there’s been destruction and devastation and things I can’t even put into words that these children have experienced, they return to school.”

Erin and Adlai were impressed by the students’ perseverance.

“They’re really courageous,” said Adlai, an elementary education and English major. “They are in the classroom eager to learn and give their best. I can’t imagine how difficult it is.”

Erin and Adlai worked in classes at Our Lady Immaculate Senior National School that are roughly equivalent to the sixth grade in the United States. They are among the first student-teachers to travel overseas since the pandemic caused the suspension of in-person international programs.

“Being abroad gives us an opportunity to really apply what we’re learning to a curriculum we don’t know,” said Erin, who is from Kingston and pursuing a master’s degree in elementary education. “It really encourages us to grow.”

Ukrainian children are largely integrated with their Irish counterparts, though Erin and Adlai also worked separately with three students. They helped them improve their English with lessons on verb tenses and forming sentences.

Drawing from their Bridgewater courses, they became caring figures in the Ukrainian students’ lives.

“I think BSU in general tries to prepare us to approach the student as a whole and think about everything that could be affecting the student,” Adlai said. “As a teacher, I can come in and be the support system for them.”

Neither Bridgewater student expected to teach refugees during their time in Ireland.

“To be able to be directly involved in some way has been a really unique experience,” Adlai said

Added Erin: “That has been a really powerful part of our experience.”

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

I think BSU in general tries to prepare us to approach the student as a whole and think about everything that could be affecting the student. As a teacher, I can come in and be the support system for them.

Adlai Greene, ’22

Tags

Study Abroad

Banking on Support

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 15:35:58 +0000

Banking on Support Anonymous Thu, 01/09/2020 - 10:35

Santander partnership with university funds international study

December 13, 2019

Brian Benson

Story Series

News Feature

For Shane DeSousa, ’21, New Zealand’s towering mountains and death-defying recreational opportunities leave him awestruck. But, the 51�Թ�� psychology and health science major almost never experienced those wonders or the thrill of trying one of the tallest bungee jumps in the world.

Shane journeyed to New Zealand last spring as part of a semester studying at Bond University in Australia with support from a partnership between BSU and Santander Bank, N.A.

“It was amazing,” he said of receiving a scholarship funded by the bank. “Choosing to study abroad was expensive. The scholarship helped me with flights and going to New Zealand, which was something I didn’t think I could do.”

International education will be within reach of more students thanks to a $125,000 grant from Santander Universities. The grant continues funding for the Santander Study Abroad Scholarship and BSU’s Bridge Partnership. The initiatives will benefit more than 150 students annually.

“Santander recognizes the immense value of our partnership with 51�Թ�� through the Bridge Partnership Program,” said Seth Goodall, the bank’s executive director of corporate social responsibility. “We’re also grateful to work together to provide opportunities for students in southern Massachusetts to experience college immersion or broaden their world view through study abroad programs.”

The Bridge Partnership includes a summer program for middle schoolers from Brockton and New Bedford. Participants live in a residence hall; experience college life; take courses with BSU faculty and education majors and middle school teachers; and tour educational, cultural and historic sites.

Santander Study Abroad Scholars receive up to $2,500. Scholars are chosen semi-annually based on financial need.

Scholar Alyssa Raymond, ’20, an English major, studied at Aristotle University and the University of Macedonia in Greece. She backpacked through nearby countries and formed international friendships. She enjoyed helping her new pals improve their English and is pursuing a minor in teaching English to speakers of other languages because of her study abroad experience.

Alyssa, who works multiple jobs, praised the scholarship for easing the financial strain of traveling.

Alex Ortiz, ’20, a Spanish and secondary education major, took classes in Spanish at Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador and visited family members there. He hopes to take his future students on trips.

“It helped make the whole process that much more feasible because studying abroad is such a big financial burden,” he said.

Management major Jesse MacDougall, ’20, studied at the University of Limerick in Ireland. He also traveled to Northern Ireland, where he saw signs of the struggles between Protestants and Catholics.

The Santander scholarship, coupled with other financial aid, meant Jesse could focus on the once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

“That was definitely a determining factor,” he said. Studying abroad could have been “a dream deferred.”

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

It helped make the whole process that much more feasible because studying abroad is such a big financial burden.

Alex Ortiz, ’20

Tags

Study Abroad

Global Outlook

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 15:35:58 +0000

Global Outlook Anonymous Thu, 01/09/2020 - 10:35

Political science major studies in Canada thanks to fellowship

September 27, 2019

Brian Benson

Story Series

News Feature

Brittany Christian, ’20, is a world traveler, and she credits 51�Թ�� with broadening her horizons – academically and geographically.

With a year in England and shorter trips to Cambodia and Belize under her belt, Brittany is now spending a semester in Toronto thanks to the prestigious Killam Fellowships Program. Each year the program, administered by Fulbright Canada, funds student exchanges, sending a small group of exceptional American undergraduates to Canada and Canadian undergraduates to the U.S.

“What I hope to take away from the experience is that I can take my career and academics internationally. I don’t have to limit myself to America,” said Brittany, a political science major who is studying the subject at York University this fall. “I’m excited to learn the Canadian perspective on some of the pressing issues the globe is facing today.”

Fellows also visit the Canadian capital of Ottawa for orientation and travel to Washington, D.C., for a post-study abroad seminar. BSU is one of 15 American universities associated with the fellowship.

Brittany learned about the opportunity from the Department of Political Science. She praises the university and its Study Abroad Office for promoting a global education and opportunities to travel.

“It definitely would have been much harder to find these opportunities on my own,” she said.

Brittany, who grew up in Boston and lives in Brockton, has also excelled at home, working for state Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz, D-Boston, and federal courts in Massachusetts.

Brittany hopes to become a civil rights attorney, a career that will blend her interest in political science and passion for righting injustices. Initially an English major, Brittany found her love for her eventual field of study during an American government course her freshman year.

“I’m grateful for all of the political science-type opportunities,” she said. “I feel like this fellowship is topping it off.”

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

What I hope to take away from the experience is that I can take my career and academics internationally. I don’t have to limit myself to America.

Brittany Christian, ’20

Tags

Student Spotlight

Study Abroad