Centre News

“If that plane leaves the ground and you're not on it, you'll regret it — maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon, and for the rest of your life.”

Bogie’s advice to Ingrid Bergman, albeit for different reasons, is similar in sentiment to Centre’s commitment to global learning adventures for its students. China, Ecuador, Turkey, New Zealand, Bali, Greece, India, Japan — name a hemisphere, a continent, a country, province or historic city, and you’ll probably find that Centre students have been there…including Casablanca.

One of the best tools Centre students have to guide their study abroad decisions is the student-written Travel Journals on Centre’s Web site. Since 2002, Centre students have been providing an intimate look into their study abroad experiences in far-flung locations around the world.

In 2002, Ben Beaton ’03 wrote about his trip to Strasbourg, France: “Strasbourg’s prime location in the geographical heart of Europe, coupled with the superb rail system that transverses the continent, makes travel to several nations quite feasible for a Centre student with long weekends and a Eurail pass. At this point in the semester, I have made it to four countries, with at least another six on the docket.”

In 2004, Meg Fenton ’05 had this to say during her study abroad experience in Morocco: “The cathedral was amazing, as many in Europe are. The stained glass windows around every corner were magnificent and cast multi-colored light across the aisles and onto other works of art. This is the third largest cathedral in the world. The altarpiece is gold that reaches almost to the ceiling and contains over 1,000 figures. However, the sheer mass of this cathedral is what sets it apart and knocks you speechless at the entrance.”

Current student-journalist Clay McDonald ’10 of Chattanooga, Tenn., remarks at the end of his trip to China, “I now feel confident that I can travel to places that at first seem intimidating or for some reason ‘too different’ and still learn a lot and have a blast while I’m at it.”

“The keystone of the College's strategic plan is to broaden and enhance global citizenship,” says Dr. Clarence Wyatt, special assistant to the president, chief planning officer and Claude D. Pottinger Professor of History.

About 85 percent of all Centre graduates already study abroad, but Centre is hoping to make it even easier for students to take advantage of its many abroad programs.

A new initiative called “Centre's Your Passport” will provide a free passport for all first-year students entering in the fall of 2010 if they do not already own one. This program enhances the promises of the Centre Commitment, which is also a goal of Centre Forward, the College’s strategic plan. (The Centre Commitment guarantees students who meet the College’s academic and social expectations an internship, study abroad, and graduation in four years.)

To read about the many adventures Centre students have while studying abroad, click here.