Study Abroad

Connections Made

BBENSON@bridgew.edu — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 16:01:00 +0000

Connections Made BBENSON@bridgew.edu Wed, 01/29/2025 - 11:01

Azores trip allows students to learn about family and local culture

January 30, 2025

Brian Benson, G'23

Traveling to the Azores was much more than an academic journey for Sophia Vitorino, 鈥�26. It was an opportunity to connect with their family鈥檚 history.

Sophia鈥檚 grandparents immigrated from the Azores to the United States in 1971, but Sophia had never visited the Portuguese islands before enrolling in the Bridgewater State study tour.

鈥淚t was just amazing,鈥� said Sophia, who is majoring in biology and minoring in chemistry, sustainability and Spanish. 鈥淚 have been wanting to go to the Azores for a long time and it was never the right time. Through 色香视频, I was finally able to go.鈥�

Sophia, who is from North Attleboro, was among 11 students who traveled with Professor Yulia Stakhnevich and administrator Greg DeMelo. Students immersed themselves in Azorean culture while visiting schools, sampling foods and exploring geological, agricultural, and religious sites in a region where cows outnumber people.

鈥淵ou can talk about the culture and the history and do the readings, but it is so much more powerful being there and experiencing the culture first-hand,鈥� said Dr. Stakhnevich, a professor of TESOL (teaching English to speakers of other languages).

The trip is part of 色香视频鈥檚 efforts to strengthen ties between Portugal and the university, which serves a region of Massachusetts with a large Portuguese population.

鈥淏eing of Portuguese descent, it has always been one of my hopes to connect the Azores and mainland Portugal to 色香视频 through education,鈥� said Dr. DeMelo, director of travel services and special projects.

Sophia鈥檚 grandparents left the Azores when it was under a dictatorship. Today, the chain of islands is part of Portugal but has political autonomy and is led by President Jos茅 Manuel Bolieiro. The 色香视频 contingent even had a lengthy conversation with the leader and toured his palace.

鈥淢eeting the president was really fascinating,鈥� said Sophia, who enjoyed sharing the journey with relatives. 鈥淢y grandparents have never had that opportunity. They were very impressed.鈥�

Bolieiro told the students that they 鈥渁re the main actors of tomorrow,鈥� noting that 鈥渢he future depends on young people, their energy and creativity.鈥� Building connections to their ancestors鈥� land is an important way to preserve the Azorean cultural identity, he said.

The trip was also personal for Thalita Madeiros, 鈥�25, a childhood studies major (with minors in marketing and integrated communications) from Tewksbury. Thalita鈥檚 great-great grandparents were from the Azores.

鈥淚 really wanted to learn where my family came from,鈥� said Thalita, who was surprised by how peaceful and quiet the region was. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 really important to learn how they grew up in comparison to how I grew up.鈥�

Each student kept a journal and wrote a paper about Azorean culture. Thalita wrote about the spelling of her last name, which she learned differs from the more common spelling 鈥淢edeiros鈥� due to evolving pronunciations and cultural factors.

While Jagger Bryant, 鈥�25, G鈥�26, has no family ties to the Azores, the aspiring police officer wanted to explore a different culture and learn more about the ethnic backgrounds of those with whom he will interact on the job.

鈥淚t is important to understand where they came from and their background,鈥� said the criminal justice major from Mashpee. 鈥淢y goal going over there was to be a sponge and take in as much as I could.鈥�

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

You can talk about the culture and the history and do the readings, but it is so much more powerful being there and experiencing the culture first-hand.

Dr. Yulia Stakhnevich

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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, 鈥�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.

鈥淚t鈥檚 really rewarding and amazing that they picked me,鈥� said Genna, who is from Groveland and will attend the University of Ottawa for the fall semester. 鈥淚鈥檓 very excited.鈥�

色香视频 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 色香视频 regularly hosts Canadian students.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a very prestigious award. It鈥檚 a highly selective process,鈥� said Dr. Andrew Holman, a history professor who coordinates the Canadian Studies program. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a real feather in our cap.鈥�

Holman said Bridgewater鈥檚 Killam success speaks to the quality of 色香视频 students 鈥� and Genna is no exception.

鈥淪he strikes me as a self-starter, someone who doesn鈥檛 need a lot of prodding,鈥� said Holman, who also highlighted her self-confidence. 鈥淪he鈥檚 going to make a great ambassador for Bridgewater State.鈥�

Genna praised Holman鈥檚 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.

鈥淏ridgewater as a school has amazing opportunities,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 clear that they care about their students and want to set them up to succeed.鈥�

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

鈥淲hen they hear Canada, people think it鈥檚 just like America. But there are a lot of differences,鈥� said Genna, who will be studying at a French-English bilingual university. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited to learn more French.鈥�

At the University of Ottawa, she will take classes in criminal justice and political science (her 色香视频 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 色香视频 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鈥檚 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.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a really big honor and exciting that I get to represent Bridgewater in another country,鈥� she said.

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

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

Genna Symonds, 鈥�25

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Fulbright

Study Abroad

Photo by Grace Small

鈥楤orn to be a Bear鈥�

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

鈥楤orn to be a Bear鈥� BBENSON@bridgew.edu Wed, 04/17/2024 - 11:05

Twins follow in parents鈥� footsteps on campus

April 18, 2024

Brian Benson, G'23

Kelsey and Elisabeth Sweeney鈥檚 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鈥檛 realize they would one day also call Shea-Durgin home, but they knew there was something special about Bridgewater.

鈥淚 always say, 鈥業 was born to be a Bear,鈥欌€� Kelsey said.

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

鈥淚鈥檓 so proud of them and what they鈥檝e accomplished,鈥� Michelle said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been really nice to go through this all over again. You wish you were back in college.鈥�

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

鈥淥ne 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,鈥� 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.

鈥淚 felt like Bridgewater really prepared you to go out into the real world,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 one of the reasons I wanted Kelsey to go to Bridgewater.鈥�

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鈥檚 Marshfield location. She鈥檚 also going to pursue a master鈥檚 degree in social work from 色香视频.

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

鈥淵ou can find a community anywhere in Bridgewater, and that instantly created a new home for me,鈥� Kelsey said. 鈥淭he sense of community on campus is what draws me here.鈥�

It also attracted her sister to 色香视频 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 色香视频 and introduced her sister to her college friends.

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

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 鈥� a connection built through a semester abroad in the country.

While an ocean will soon separate the twins, there鈥檚 one place that will always bring the Sweeney family together: 色香视频.

鈥淚t鈥檚 nice to have a second home for all of us,鈥� Kelsey said.

Do you have a 色香视频 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鈥檚 one of the reasons I wanted Kelsey to go to Bridgewater.

Michelle Sweeney, '91

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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鈥�24, felt a sense of disbelief: It was hard to accept she was so many miles from home.

鈥淎s we get older, we don鈥檛 have as many opportunities, but the learning you get from going abroad is very different than learning in a classroom,鈥� said Jennifer, who is working toward her master鈥檚 degree in social work.

Jennifer, and 17 other 色香视频 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 色香视频 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鈥檚 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.

鈥淭here was such a sense of belonging with our group,鈥� Jennifer said. 鈥淚 think there is a different maturity for graduate students, the energy isn鈥檛 so much about being in another country, but about learning together. It was just a great experience.鈥�

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

鈥淲e鈥檝e been brainstorming unique ways to build community with graduate students who have very busy schedules and spend limited time on campus,鈥� McVickar said. 鈥淟ast fall we reached out to Study Abroad and found out that an all-graduate student course hadn鈥檛 been done before, we had to try.鈥�

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

鈥淎ll three are crucially important in today鈥檚 world,鈥� she said. 鈥淥ften 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.鈥�

What they also found in creating the course is 色香视频 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.

鈥淲e weren鈥檛 sure how many students were going to sign up, but I think it shows there is a desire for graduate study abroad opportunities,鈥� said graduate studies Associate Director Katie-Ann Mason, who accompanied the group on the trip as a chaperone. 鈥淚t 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.鈥�

Jennifer would agree, the trip was indeed impactful.

鈥淭his experience has truly inspired me to not be afraid to try new things,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 hope 色香视频 is able to offer more opportunities like this in the future.鈥�

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

鈥淲e 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,鈥� she said.

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

As we get older, we don鈥檛 have as many opportunities, but the learning you get from going abroad is very different than learning in a classroom.

Jennifer Mederios, G鈥�24

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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鈥檚 perhaps no better place to learn a foreign language than somewhere it is roundly spoken. And Spanish major Raphaella Pastos, 鈥�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 色香视频 students who received Gilman Scholarships to help fund their educational travel experiences in the upcoming academic year.

鈥淚t relieves a big amount of stress,鈥� said Raphaella, who will spend the fall semester in Seville, Spain. 鈥淚 was worried because I wouldn鈥檛 be able to work while abroad.鈥�

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.

鈥淭he scholarship helps more than I have words to express,鈥� said Barbara Dickey, 鈥�23, a psychology and communication sciences and disorders major who will travel to Rome for the fall semester. 鈥淚鈥檓 able to go a little bit more stress free knowing my finances are in a better place.鈥�

色香视频 students鈥� success came as the scholarship鈥檚 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

鈥淚t鈥檚 astounding what we were able to do,鈥� Lynch said. 鈥淭he Gilman Scholarship has only gotten more competitive.鈥�

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.

鈥淚 cannot express how helpful they were throughout the whole process,鈥� Barbara said. 鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 have been able to do it without them.鈥�

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鈥檚 in Seville.

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

鈥淚鈥檓 really excited to be in a new country and a new culture and to just really experience everything,鈥� she said.

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

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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 色香视频 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, 鈥�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.

鈥淚t鈥檚 so important for students to get out and see the world and experience a totally different way of living,鈥� 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鈥檚 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.

鈥淭here鈥檚 not a stigma around mental health in Morocco like there is here in the U.S.,鈥� she said. 鈥淚n Morocco, they鈥檙e very open.鈥�

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.

鈥淲e left Logan Airport as strangers,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e became so close throughout the trip. I would say we are best friends.鈥�

A Dream Fulfilled

Gretchen Sandstrum, 鈥�22, long knew she wanted to student teach abroad. In fact, it鈥檚 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.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 an amazing opportunity,鈥� said Gretchen, who is from Norwood and studied elementary education, special education and Spanish. 鈥淚t definitely sets you apart from other teacher candidates because it is so unique.鈥�

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.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a life-changing experience for these students,鈥� 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.

鈥淭o be able to immerse yourself into a different culture is incredible,鈥� she said. 鈥淕etting to experience different school settings and the way different teachers teach makes you a better teacher.鈥�

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

Cassandra DeMotte, 鈥�24

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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

色香视频 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鈥�22, and Adlai Greene, 鈥�22, taught some of the youngest victims of the war.

The 色香视频 students recently worked with the refugees during an eight-week international student-teaching experience.

鈥淚t鈥檚 hard in the moment to process what has happened, that these children have experienced war,鈥� Erin said. 鈥淓ven though there鈥檚 been destruction and devastation and things I can鈥檛 even put into words that these children have experienced, they return to school.鈥�

Erin and Adlai were impressed by the students鈥� perseverance.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e really courageous,鈥� said Adlai, an elementary education and English major. 鈥淭hey are in the classroom eager to learn and give their best. I can鈥檛 imagine how difficult it is.鈥�

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.

鈥淏eing abroad gives us an opportunity to really apply what we鈥檙e learning to a curriculum we don鈥檛 know,鈥� said Erin, who is from Kingston and pursuing a master鈥檚 degree in elementary education. 鈥淚t really encourages us to grow.鈥�

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鈥� lives.

鈥淚 think 色香视频 in general tries to prepare us to approach the student as a whole and think about everything that could be affecting the student,鈥� Adlai said. 鈥淎s a teacher, I can come in and be the support system for them.鈥�

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

鈥淭o be able to be directly involved in some way has been a really unique experience,鈥� Adlai said

Added Erin: 鈥淭hat has been a really powerful part of our experience.鈥�

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

I think 色香视频 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, 鈥�22

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Study Abroad