November 7, 2017 – A collection of photographs by 29 King’s College students who participated in study abroad programs to Spain, Ireland, Vietnam, Ecuador, Australia, Northern Ireland, and Russia will be on display in the exhibition titled “The World as Our Classroom: Photos from Study Abroad,” held from Monday, Nov. 20, through Friday, Dec. 22, in the Widmann Gallery at King’s College. 

Through the College’s Office of Study Abroad, King’s offers a variety of short-term faculty-led study abroad programs as part of its commitment to global learning and student development. This summer King’s coordinated four short-term faculty-led experiences. Nineteen students studied history, literature, and culture in Ireland and Scotland. The experience included trips to Dublin, Donegal, Belfast, Glasgow, and Edinburgh. The group visited cultural landmarks including Yeats Country, Lissadell House, the Palace at Holyroodhouse, and Edinburgh Castle, as well as the political murals in Belfast. Ireland and Scotland exhibition participants include Ali Brady, Avoca; Bryce Partlow, Nanticoke; Cavan Temple, Kingston; Christa Franckiewicz, Wilkes Barre; Jill Patton, Monroe Township; Katelyn Talbot, Hawley; Tristan Milazzo, Hanover Township; and Megan McGowan, Moosic.

Ten students met business leaders at Vietnamese and international companies, toured commercial centers, and travelled to Singapore, one of world’s largest financial centers. The group visited the Taoist Quan Thanh Temple, The Buddhist Tran Quoc Pagoda, and Ho Chi Minh’s House and Masoleum. The experience featured excursions to Vietnamese natural landmarks including Halong Bay and Ninh Binh. Vietnam exhibition participants include Allison Andrew, Lehighton; Charlotte Yelnosky, Huntingdon; and Margaret Bentkowski, New Windsor, N.Y.

Sixteen students experienced the history and culture of Seville, Spain while learning the art of travel writing. The trip included excursions to Granada, Cordoba, and the Roman Ruins Itálica. Spain exhibition students include Krystal Szerzen, Olyphant, and Sara Tolpa, Annandale, N.J.

Thirteen students in health science fields and physician assistant studies were stationed in Aconcito, Ecuador, a small fishing village in the province of St. Lena. The group provided healthcare at a medical clinic and led public health activities such as health fairs and dental hygiene presentations. Students travelled to Isla de Las Platas to experience marine and other wildlife. The experience was coordinated by King’s Office of Study Abroad in conjunction with the Foundation of International Medical Relief for Children. Ecuador exhibition participants include Brittany McNair, Hanover Township; John Macri, Mountain Top; Marlee Mierzwa, Kingston; and Brynn Connor, Warrington.

In addition, King’s Study Abroad Program coordinates semester-long study abroad experiences at many universities around the world including France, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Russia, and Australia. Students exhibiting work from these experiences are Alexis Swagler, Nichols, N.Y. (Limerick, Ireland); Tara Westington, Ridgefield, Conn. (Dublin, Ireland); Julia Stopper, Mountain Top (Belfast, Northern Ireland); Elizabeth Novak, Portersville (St. Petersburg, Russia); Merissa Konnick, Dallas (Seville, Spain); Keegan Williamson, Quakertown (Melbourne, Australia). 

The Widmann Gallery is on the first floor of the Sheehy-Farmer Campus Center, located between North Franklin and North Main streets. Gallery hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, as arranged. The Gallery is closed on national holidays.

To learn more about King’s students study abroad experiences, visit the Study Abroad Webpage at http://www.kings.edu/studyabroad. For more information on the Study Abroad Program, contact Margaret Kowalsky, director and exhibition coordinator, at margaretkowalsky@kings.edu, or call (570) 208-5986.

A photograph taken by Keegan Williamson during a King’s College study abroad program experience. Taken off Roy’s Peak hiking trail in Wanaka, New Zealand, Keegan’s photo is among a collection of photographs taken during Study Abroad experiences that will be on display in the Widmann Gallery at King’s College.