Posted on Friday, January 31, 2020
During her Interim Term course in the Cayman Islands, Madison Murphy ’20 kissed a stingray – and she liked it.
“My favorite activity was going to Stingray City,” she said. “I held a stingray, kissed a stingray, fed a stingray and received a back massage and a full body massage from a stingray. I witnessed how beautiful stingrays can be, even though they are often deemed dangerous. Learning about the sea life in the Cayman Islands was my favorite part of the course.”
Madison was one of 113 students who traveled around the world during this year’s Interim Term in January to learn about different cultures and perspectives. Other travel destinations included France, England, Spain, Morocco, Ireland and New Zealand.
Dr. Kevin Ludwick, Assistant Professor of Physics, led a class to Iceland.
“I’ve always wanted to see the Northern Lights,” he said. “A former professor taught astronomy as a non-travel Interim course in the past, and I thought the course would go perfectly with a travel component. Students would go to a country with a slightly different view of the sky and with the possibility of seeing the Northern Lights.”
They also studied ancient Norse writing with Dr. Nina Dulin-Mallory, Professor of English.
Unfortunately, weather conditions made seeing the Northern Lights impossible.
“We’ll just have to go back and try again,” Dr. Ludwick laughed.
Nursing students traveled to London to follow the footsteps of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.
“It was fascinating to visit St. Thomas Hospital where she established the very first formal nursing school in 1860,” said senior Misselly Morales. “I developed a deep understanding of the events in history that have led to the modern day nursing we know today.”
In Ireland, LaGrange students were filmed by the Mid Ulster District Council while learning about Irish music, theater and literature. The council then posted the video on Facebook. See it here.
Monee Garza ’20 traveled to Morocco where she found herself the “bride” in a reenactment of a Moroccan wedding. She called her study-away course “a life-changing event.”
“Not only did I get to travel the world, but I also got to see how others live,” she said. “That was a humbling experience, and showed me how blessed I am to have the life I have now."
One group went almost entirely across the world to New Zealand.
Senior Lilly DeGennaro said they spent two days in Hawaii before moving on to New Zealand.
“We were learning about Polynesian culture,” she said. “Through the Māori’s focus on conservation and eco-preservation, I started thinking of simple ways to lessen my carbon footprint and take care of the environment.”
They also visited culturally significant places including the Auckland War Museum and the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, where the nation of New Zealand was born.
“It takes 18 to 24 months to plan and develop these faculty-led study away courses, and the seven on the road this January traveled to some incredibly diverse destinations,” said Michele Raphoon, Coordinator of the Office of Global Engagement. “The topics the students studied were just as diverse.
“We’re all excited to hear about the students’ most important learning moments and how they can apply this knowledge to future situations.”
Interim courses were taught on campus, as well. Topics ranged from the Civil War to the works of C.S. Lewis.
But regardless of where they studied, Interim Term students said their January adventures were life-changing.
“This trip has impacted my life in the greatest way possible,” said nursing student Misselly. “I am so grateful for the knowledge I gained about the profession I feel called to do.”
For more photos, visit here.
Faculty and staff members were honored Thursday at the annual appreciation luncheon. Service awards were presented to: five years – Earl Chambers, Mark Davis, Susan Mansour, Stephanie Marcellini, Andrea Mueller, Bobby Jo Otto, Rebekah Ralph, Adam Roberts, Jennifer Shaw, Kendall Todd and Fred Wagenaar; 10 years – Debby Baker, Dawn Coker, David Kelton, Dan McAlexander and Celeste Myall; 15 years – Janet Hughes and Anthony Wilson; 20 years – Toni Anderson, Linda McMullen, Michelle Reeves, Margaret Reneke, Lydia Rosencrants and Sheila Scott; 25 years – John Cook, Susan Laforet, William Paschal and William Yin; and 35 years – Nina Dulin-Mallory.
Congratulations to Laura Faulkner, Administrative Support for the Spiritual Life Center and Career Development, this year’s winner of the Staff Stellar Service Award. She was selected by staff and faculty in recognition of her outstanding customer service, commitment to teamwork and demonstrated support of the college’s mission and core values.
Don’t forget this year’s MLK program featuring Dr. Beverly Tatum, president emerita of Spelman College. It will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in Price Theater.
Political Science major Yasmin Roper ’21 recently attended the Tuskegee Law Symposium, where she met Civil Rights legend Fred Gray, who was an attorney for the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks and the participants of the Selma-to-Montgomery March.
As part of the initiative Troup Harris Reads One Book, acclaimed Georgia writer Brian Panowich will discuss his first novel “Bull Mountain” at 7 p.m. Thursday in Callaway Auditorium. “Bull Mountain” was awarded the ITW Thriller Award for Best First Novel.
A few slots are still available for the 3D Journeys trip on March 16 to Pasaquan near Buena Vista. The colorful art environment was created by Eddie Owens Martin, also known as St. EOM. He created seven acres filled with six major structures, more than 900 feet of painted masonry fence, painted totems, decorative walkways, sculptures, paintings and other art and artifacts. The site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. The trip will include lunch at the Sign of the Dove bed and breakfast. For more information, contact Martha Pirkle at mpirkle@kongtiao11.com.
Dr. John Tures, Political Science Professor, had his article “Americans on the right and left change their minds after hearing where Trump stands” in several publications, including Salon Magazine, Yahoo News, The Conversation, the Houston Chronicle and the San Francisco Chronicle.
Tuesday
Thursday
Women’s Basketball
The Panthers (12-6, 6-4 USA South) won their fourth straight, defeating Wesleyan 81-69 on Tuesday. Jahpera McEachin led LC with 10 points. The Panthers had 15 of 17 players score points in the game.
Men’s Basketball
Piedmont rallied to beat the Panthers (4-14, 3-8 USA South) 84-77 on Wednesday. Henry Blair led the Panthers with a career-high 17 points, while Lincoln Anderson added 13.
Swimming
Aatiq Bradley set three personal records in the 200-yard individual medley, the 100 butterfly, and 100 freestyle at the Viking Classic Invitational last Saturday. Teammate Connor Cochran had two personal bests in the 1,650 and 500 freestyle events.
Men’s Basketball at Berea, 2 p.m., Berea, Ky.
Sunday, Feb. 2
Women’s Basketball vs Berea, 2 p.m., Mariotti Gym
Tuesday, Feb. 4
Women’s Basketball at Agnes Scott, 6:30 p.m., Decatur, Ga.
Thursday, Feb. 6
Women’s Basketball vs Toccoa Falls, 6 p.m., Mariotti Gym
3 – Stacy Jackson
4 – Jeff Lukken
6 – Patricia Marchesi
7 – Susan Mansour
Angela McSpradden
8 – Alicia Campbell
12 – Rob Dicks
Michael White
17 – Lydia Rosencrants
21 – Don Livingston
22 – Bobby Jo Otto
25 – Kayla Watson
“It’s a new sport with a new set of rules." Head Volleyball Coach Madision Machurek spells out the challenges facing LaGrange College’s first beach volleyball team.
MLK speaker to lead dialogue about race – Troup County News, Jan. 31, 2020
LaGrange College students get valuable experience in Miami – LaGrange Daily News, Jan. 29, 2020
Panthers fall short – LaGrange Daily News, Jan. 25-27, 2020
Panthers end losing skid – LaGrange Daily News, Jan. 25-27, 2020
Category: Global engagement, Academics, Students, Community
Keywords: Jan Term, Interim Term, global engagement, travel
