Gwinnett Tech students Curtis Hayden and Lian Xue are just days away from boarding a plane to Berlin to take their studies abroad – on full scholarships from the Global Institute of Comparative Studies (GICS) at Chancellor University.
Hayden and Xue will be participating in the World Capitals Summer 2012 program, where they’ll study abroad in Berlin, Germany, and Strasbourg and Paris, France. They are leaving June 2 and will study for one month in Berlin and then travel to Strasbourg, staying at The Château de Pourtalès, an 18th century castle on the Rhine River. They will end their studies in Paris.
Both Gwinnett Tech student ambassadors, Hayden and Xue are prepared and eager for their travels ahead. “This trip reminds me of the quote — ‘Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.’ Being enrolled in the culinary arts program, I’m interested in stepping out of my comfort zone to experience the other countries’ cultures – how they eat and interact,” says Hayden
Xue, originally from China, has been in America for ten years, but the study abroad program will mark her first trip to Europe. “I’m excited to experience Germany and France for the very first time,” she says. She is enrolled in the college’s Health Sciences program.
While traveling across Europe, the students will compare cultures, economies and political institutions while taking courses relating to global issues, visiting museums, attending lectures at the European Union, visiting international organizations and receiving lectures from high level executives at multinational corporations.
To apply for the scholarship, Hayden and Xue were required to have a minimum 2.5 GPA and be in good academic standing with Gwinnett Tech. They also submitted a competitive essay on their interest in participating in the program. Each scholarship was valued at $8,000.
Gwinnett Tech has an ongoing study abroad program and has worked for more than a decade with Cultural and Educational Programs Abroad (CEPA), which provides for customized study abroad programs in Europe.
Gwinnett Tech offers more than 50 degree, diploma and certificate options that can be completed in two years or less. For more information, visit www.GwinnettTech.edu or call 770-962-7580