Posts Tagged ‘Study Abroad’

Exhibition of Contemporary Work by Latin American Artists Opens at Holy Cross

January 25th, 2017 by Evangelia Stefanakos

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Students, faculty, and staff gather in the Cantor Art Gallery for the opening reception of “Last Frontier: The Subjectivity of Territory,” engaging with the thought-provoking work of 10 Latin American artists who explore the concept of borders through photography, sculpture, and video. The exhibition, curated by V. Nicolás Koralsky, the director for the College’s study abroad program in Buenos Aires, will run through April 14.

Photo by Tom Rettig

Rajotte ’17 Sails Away on Unique Semester Experience

September 30th, 2016 by Jessica McCaughey

Timothy Rajotte ’17, an English major from Abington, Mass., spent the spring semester off campus, partaking in the SEA Semester, a field-based environmental education at sea. Before departing on the ship, Rajotte spent six weeks in Woods Hole, Mass., where he took a number of classes including oceanography, nautical science, and maritime history.

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Rajotte traveled the sea aboard the SSV Corwith Cramer. Enrolled in the Colonization to Conservation in the Caribbean program, Rajotte traveled to St. Croix, St. John, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Cuba.

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Above, Rajotte stands at the helm of the ship. “Standing the watch” was crucial to his experience. “Our class of 24 was divided into three watches, one of which was always required to control the navigational and scientific objectives while underway at all hours of the day and night. We usually had two watches per day, one of which would be six hours long during day light hours, and then a four hour watch taking place during the dark of night” Rajotte explains.

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Above, Rajotte is pictured in a Holy Cross shirt, poses after playing a pickup game of baseball in Samaná, Dominican Republic. On shore, each student conducts a research project on a current social topic in the Caribbean. “I chose to focus on the historical effect of Major League Baseball on the Dominican Republic and Cuba, and how prospects from the Caribbean are exploited for their talents,” Rajotte says.

Looking back on the adventure, Rajotte reflects on the many unique experiences, “this experience was one I will never forget. It instilled confidence, work ethic, and leadership abilities in me that I never knew I could attain. Surrounded by great friends, professors, and crew members, I explored amazing towns and cities that are considered off the beaten path for tourism, in the process meeting people who embraced us and welcome us into their culture.”

McCue ’17 Receives Prominent Critical Language Scholarship to Indonesia

July 29th, 2016 by Jessica McCaughey

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Political science major Billy McCue ’17 spent the summer in Indonesia after receiving a competitive Critical Language Scholarship (CLS),  a fully-funded overseas language and cultural immersion program of the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. McCue, pictured above traveling the picturesque mountains of Indonesia, completed the intensive 8-week-long Bahasa Indonesia language program at Universitas Negeri Malang located in Malang, Indonesia, the second largest city in East Java.

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After spending the fall of his junior year abroad in Jogja, Indonesia, McCue pursued a CLS in Indonesia in order to improve his language skills and reconnect with his own Indonesian heritage. For McCue, the opportunity to return to Indonesia through a CLS was both a rewarding experience and an indicator of his future goals.

“I want to work abroad and help solve problems that hurt Indonesia today. Indonesia is such an emerging, vibrant country and it is for that reason that I want to go back,” expressed McCue, who is currently applying for a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Indonesia.

Written by Grainne Fitzpatrick ‘17
Photos by Billy McCue ‘17

Students Abroad Attend Lecture by Former Obama Speechwriter Jon Favreau ’03

February 13th, 2016 by Jessica McCaughey

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Jon Favreau ’03, third from left, former chief speechwriter for President Obama, poses with Tom Reuter ’17, Megan Izzo ’17, and Tyler Ambrose ’17, after delivering a speech at the Oxford Union. The members of the class of 2017 attended the lecture, “Life as Obama’s Speechwriter,” during their study abroad at Mansfield College.

Photo provided by Megan Izzo ’17

Fourth Annual Study Abroad Photo Contest Winners Unveiled

September 4th, 2014 by

The Office of Study Abroad held a welcome back reception for the class of 2015 and summer 2014 study abroad participants in the Hogan Ballroom. During the event, the winners of the fourth annual study abroad photo contest were announced.

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First Place
Caitlin Cantor ’15
Title: “Unveiled Truth”
Location: Cusco, Peru
Program: Lima, Peru (Spring 2014)
Student quote: “After spending a week with weavers in Cusco, I learned about local, traditional techniques, patterns, and clothing, and that the clothes they wore were in fact uniforms to exhibit and preserve these traditions.”

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Second Place
Caitlin Cantor ’15
Title: “Unknown Field, Unknown Workers”
Location: Caral, Peru
Program: Lima, Peru (Spring 2014)
Student quote: “The price of eating and feeding could mean waking up at 3 a.m. to find work at an unfamiliar camp with unnamed terms and lack of security and human rights.”

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Third Place
Sophia Jin ’15
Title: “Do you want to build a snowman?”
Location: Harbin Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, China
Program: CET Intensive Language in Beijing
Student quote: “Before coming to China, I watched Disney’s ‘Frozen’ with my sister. On a trip to freezing Harbin, I attended their annual Ice and Snow Festival, and was reminded of the movie and a particular scene where the main character sings the song “Do you want to build a snowman?” Being there amidst all the ice and lights was so magical; I knew I had to snap a photo to capture the memory. It definitely felt like an ice kingdom that Elsa, the ice queen in ‘Frozen,’ could’ve created.”

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Honorable mention
Meghan Casey ’15
Title: “This is my home: A Zanzibari seaweed harvester looks out to sea”
Location: Paje, Zanzibar
Program: American Councils African Language Initiative
Student quote: “This photo was taken in the Paje region of the island of Zanzibar — women there are seaweed harvesters, often working from sunrise until sunset to create intricate fields of seaweed within the water. For cultural and religious reasons, they keep their typical clothing on during work, submerging the colorful clothing in the water. The ocean is integral to their daily life, as they use this seaweed for everything from cooking to soap-making to weaving. This photo shows the natural beauty of the seaweed fields as well as of Zanzibari women in daily life.”

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Honorable mention
Maura Tracy ’15
Title: “A Coastal Walk”
Location: Connemara, Ireland
Program: University of Léon, Spain
Student quote: “The weekend I spent in the countryside of Ireland in Connemara, I witnessed some of the most beautiful views I have ever seen. I took this photo while on a hike and decided to capture the beauty of the Irish coast with a flock of sheep grazing in their field. This photo depicts the natural beauty of this special place.”

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Honorable mention
Meghan Casey ’15
Title: “A Road of Progress: An urban dala dala carries boys through town”
Location: Zanzibar, Tanzania
Program: American Councils African Language Initiative
Student quote: “This picture is of boys riding through town on a dala dala, the traditional Tanzanian mix between a truck and a taxi that characterizes urban Zanzibari streets and epitomizes their richly fast pace. Because Zanzibar is very rural, the presence of dala dalas usually means that the area is also more developed — you can see the electricity wires in the photo. Urban Zanzibar is also swarming with youth, as demonstrated by the throng of boys crowded into the vehicle. This scene is typical for urban Zanzibar, from the dala dala to the tropical trees to the makeshift shop on the left. ”

Seniors Share Their Experiences at Study Abroad Fair

September 4th, 2013 by

Seniors who studied abroad last year hosted a Study Abroad Fair for the Class of 2016. Seniors shared their academic and cultural experiences while they were abroad.


From left, Erick Diaz ’14, Nathalie Spina ’14, Danielle Pinaud ’14, and Norma Gomez ’14 studied in Argentina last year.


From left, Kevin Sutman ’14, Vipsania Pimentel ’14, Angela Brown ’14, Brian Brazeau ’14, Christina Catalano ’14 and Caroline Quinn ’14 studied in Italy last year.

Photography by Darien Henry ’14

Third Annual Study Abroad Photo Contest Winners Unveiled

August 29th, 2013 by

The Office of Study Abroad held a welcome back reception for the Class of 2014 and summer 2013 study abroad participants in the Hogan Ballroom. During the event, the winners of the third annual study abroad photo contest were announced.


First Place
Danielle Breen ’14
“Derry Murals”
Location: Derry, Northern Ireland
Program: Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland


Second Place
Hannah McCormick ’14
“Teleférico” (cable car)
Location: Valparaíso, Chile
Program: Universidad del Salvador, Buenos Aires, Argentina


Third Place
Hannah McCormick ’14
“Nyati wa Ngorongoro” (Buffalo of Ngorongoro)
Location: Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Ngorongoro, Tanzania
Program: School for Field Studies – Kenya and Tanzania


Honorable Mention
Meghan Miles ’14
“El pulpo y la torre de Hercules de la Coruña” (“The Octopus and the Tower of Hercules in La Coruña”)
Location: La Coruña, Spain
Program: Universidad de la Coruña, La Coruña, Spain


Honorable Mention
Rachel Gannon ’14
“Николай” (“Nikolai”)
Location: Россия, Приморский край, Владивосток (Vladivostok, Primorsky Krai, Russia)
Program: Russian State University for Humanities, Moscow, Russia


Honorable Mention
Sean O’Neill ’14
“Spanish Strings”
Location: Madrid, Spain
Program: National University Galway, Galway, Ireland

Study Abroad Students Capture Striking Images

September 12th, 2012 by

The Study Abroad office sponsored their second annual study abroad photo contest this year, and once again the results were impressive.


Allison Hartman ’13 captured the first place prize for her photo titled “Hard Life in Thin Air,” which shows Taquile Island, Lake Titicaca in Peru. “Taquile Island in Lake Titicaca does not allow any machines so residents must carry everything on their backs. Lake Titicaca is a deep blue because it is the highest navigable lake in the world,” says Hartman.


The second place price went to Elizabeth Mahoney ’13 for her photo titled “Positano: A City Built into the Side of a Mountain” which was shot in Positano, Italy. “Positano was one of the quaintest and most charming places that I have visited in my year abroad,” says Mahoney. “The tiny town of just under 4,000 residents is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. Built literally into the side of the mountain, Positano has only one main road which is one way. It is known for its phenomenal seafood, extremely kind residents and incredible location along the Amalfi Coast.”


Charlotte Gellene ’13 garnered third place for her photo titled ” La Maleta,” which was taken in Pamplona, Spain. “This was one of the first interesting things I saw during my times abroad,” explains Gellene. “In Pamplona we came across a street in which every house had a differently decorated suitcase hanging outside its window. One looked like an old boom box, another had handlebars and wheels as if it was a bicycle, and others had stories written on them. This one was simple but stunning nonetheless with the intense red interior set against the calm white exterior.”


Gellene also nabbed an honorable mention for ” Valldemossa,” shot in Mallorca, Spain. “This photo was taken in a small town near the city of Palma. Each of the towns in Mallorca has a unique and beautiful character. Valldemossa is known for its cobblestone streets, green shutters and the small plant pots suspended on the walls that line every street. I think this photo really demonstrates the tranquility that Mallorcan towns have been able to maintain despite the years of development and tourism on the island.”

Mary McClay ’13 received an honorable mention for her photo titled “Agatha’s Smile,” which was taken in the village of HaMakuya in South Africa. “I interviewed Agatha for one of our research projects as she was drying spinach in the afternoon sun. The joy she radiated as we spoke was inspiring,” says McClay.

All in the (Holy Cross) Family

April 27th, 2012 by

This coming academic year, Predrag Cicovacki, professor of philosophy and director of Peace and Conflict Studies at the College, needs to make sure he has a lot of minutes on his cell phone plan. He will be traveling to Banaras University in Varanasi, India, in the fall semester as a Senior Fulbright-Nehru Fellow at the Malaviya Centre for Peace Research. Meanwhile, daughter Vera Grek ’14 will be heading to Spain for a study abroad experience. Eldest daughter, Heidi Grek ’12, is heading to Germany to study and teach after earning a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship. Cicovacki’s youngest daughter, Lydia, will be starting her Holy Cross experience as a member of the Class of 2016, so at least one member of the family (along with his wife), will be holding down the fort here on the Hill. Above, Cicovacki surrounded by his three daughters, from left, Vera, Lydia and Heidi. Read more about this Holy Cross family of scholars in the Summer 2012 issue of Holy Cross Magazine in July.

Photograph by Rob Carlin

Sovereign/Santander to Support Financial Aid for Study Abroad Programs

November 29th, 2011 by

A signing ceremony was held in the Hogan Campus Center to inaugurate Sovereign/Santander Group’s annual commitment of financial aid for certain study abroad programs for Holy Cross.


Rev. Michael C. McFarland, S.J., president of Holy Cross, and Jorge Morán, president and chief executive officer of Sovereign Bank and Santander Holdings, USA, at the signing ceremony.


From left, Eduardo Garrido, director of Santander Universities, Michael J. Lochhead, vice president of administration and finance at Holy Cross, Fr. McFarland, Moran, John P. Hamill ’61, former CEO and chairman of Sovereign, Phedra Khosropour, vice president of institutional relations at Sovereign, and Charles “Chick” Weiss, director of Grants, Foundation and Corporate Giving at Holy Cross.


From left, Francis McKenna ’84 and Minnie Saleh ’93, senior officials at Sovereign, Fr. McFarland, Moran, and Hamill.

Photography by Christian Santillo