On Monday, Oct. 6, a group of 36 students, through sponsorship of the Honors Student Association, students, along with 2 faculty members, visited the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Washington, D.C. During the visit, the group spent time developing relations with Andre Mundal, First Secretary of the Embassy Diplomatic Corps and Vedis Vik, the Embassy’s Environment Counselor. The visit serves as a sturdy step as WCU finalizes steps to host the PASSHE International Honors Summer Scholar Program to Norway in June 2015. The program places emphasis on the academic foci of leadership for peace and environmental sustainability.
“For more than thirty years, the Honors Programs and Colleges of PASSHE have joined in a Summer Honors International Scholars Program,” Dr. Kevin W. Dean, Director of the Honors College, said in a personal interview. “The programs draw two honors students from each of the 14 universities for an intensive international study experience.”
“The opportunity to learn outside of the classroom, especially in an international setting, provides unique and unforgettable personal growth,” Chris Whittall, junior accounting major and president of the Honors Student Association, said. “Students should pursue international educational experiences wherever possible, as the impact is truly life-changing.”
Whittall and senior Communication Disorders major Samantha McGinty traveled to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in Canada this past summer as delegates to the most recent International Honors Summer Program, hosted by Mansfield University.
“The last time West Chester University hosted the program was summer 2001 when we led the delegation to South Africa,” Dean continued. Since the initial program, more than 150 WCU students have traveled through the Honors College to South Africa and hundreds more have experienced classes developed by professors around topics drawn from South Africa. Furthermore, the Honors Student Association has developed Aid to South Africa, funds from which support two South African HIV-AIDS orphanages/hospice programs and a soup kitchen that feeds elementary children. If the last time WCU hosted the Summer Honors International Scholars Program developed into an event celebrated on an annual basis, the possibilities for the Norway program are endless.
According to Jeff Conradi, Project Director for Center for International Programs, “We currently have 13 students from Norway, which is 31 percent of our total international undergraduate population and 10 percent of our total international student population, including graduate students.” Building relations with Norway will allow WCU the opportunity to develop culturally and can prove to have a lasting impact on our University.
“The Center for International Programs is pleased to support the West Chester University Honors College-PASSHE program in Norway,” Dr. Peter Loedel, Interim Assistant Vice President for International Programs, said. “This is a signature initiative that supports the campus’ strategic goal of comprehensive internationalization while providing critical learning opportunities in the field of leadership studies and environmental sustainability. This initiative also deepens the strong partnership between the American College of Norway and WCU.”
Evan Marabella is a second-year student majoring in math education. He can be reached at EM800871@wcupa.edu.