BW Film Major Shines a Light on Mission Guatemala

Elise Bigley shows kids the videos she took of
them and their school

Film and international studies major Elise Bigley '16 spent six weeks at an internship in Panajachel, Guatemala where she helped create films for Mission Guatemala, a new BW partner for service-learning and study abroad.

Mission Guatemala works to help "meet the basic needs and improve the quality of life of under-served and impoverished Guatemalan peoples through health, education and nutrition initiatives and missionary service."

"I am very excited to give back by documenting their accomplishments," Bigley says on her study abroad blog.

Bigley was joined by eight BW faculty and staff members during her second week in Guatemala. They were laying a foundation for the expanded relationship between BW and Mission Guatemala.

"The people are incredible and have such a vibrant culture and history. Beautiful scenery, delicious coffee, and gorgeous rural and urban settings are just a some of the notable characteristics. The experience pushed me out of my comfort zone, but still supported me in a way that has me dying to go back."

Bigley is currently working on the largest film from her internship, but has created a short informational video including footage she gathered that encourages others to study abroad in Guatemala.

Bigley's internship was facilitated through the BW Honors Program, which is working with Explorations/Study Abroad to create more opportunities for students in the future. An Honors faculty led program is planned for May 2016.

Pre-Physical Therapy Major has High-Flying Internship Overseas

Levin (bottom) skydiving over the coast of Israel. 

As college students, many of us spend our summers building our resumes through internships and volunteer opportunities. Jon Levin '17 is spending his summer doing just that, but with a major plot twist. Levin's internship is in Bnei Brak, Israel.

The pre-physical therapy and exercise science major is interning as an assistant to the physical therapists at Ateret Rimonim, a retirement home, located in Bnei Brak. The eight week internship has included working with patients on motor functions, occupational therapy activities and daily exercises. Although he is not licensed to lead physical therapy by himself, Levin is able to assist with small physical therapy exercises and activities under supervision.

Representing Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity at The Kotel in Jerusalem

Levin and his fellow interns use their days off to travel around Israel. He's had the opportunity to visit Jerusalem and the City of David, repel down a 164-foot cliff in Tel Aviv and, his favorite experience: skydiving over the coast of Israel (see photo!). At 11,000 feet above the coast, he was able to see some incredible views of both Israel and Lebanon.

The Olmsted Falls native tells us that his time in Israel has exceeded his expectations. "I am loving being in Israel for the summer and the experiences that I have had are ones that cannot be replicated in the States."

Levin heard about this opportunity through the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, and competed to land the internship in an extensive interview process. The effort, he says,  has proved to be completely worth it!

A Not So Typical Summer Vacation Destination

McHale (left) and Gattis (right) 

The typical college student's summer vacation destination might consist of a beach, big city or other tourist destination. But senior public health major Mary McHale and sophomore arts management major Sarah Gattis are far from typical. They chose to spend their first month of summer vacation doing service work in Cape Coast, Ghana in Africa.

Their focus was on assisting teachers with their daily lessons in various schools around the Cape Coast area. Since it was the rainy season in Ghana, Gattis explained that "we would teach about personal hygiene and sanitation to prevent the children from getting sick and spreading diseases."

The women lived with a host family which helped to fully immerse them in the Ghanian culture. McHale, who has traveled to Ghana two times previously, said her host mother for this trip was a great cook.

Of course there were challenges to be faced along the way from illness to infrastructure. Hot water was only available by boiling it, and the power frequently went out. During the rainy season, flooding presented another challenge because on rainy days most of the city and surrounding areas would be shut down.

In spite of the challenges, both McHale and Gattis feel blessed to have had such an incredible experience. McHale explained her love for the country by saying that "the environment is very different from the U.S. and everyone is always looking out for me and making sure that I am safe. I think that the people are what I like most and their kindness is what I'll always remember." Both women vow to return to Cape Coast very soon.

High fives for all! 

Viva Italia! BW Soccer Teams Compete, Bond in Italy

Group photo on the Spanish Steps in Rome

Nine days, five cities and three games. Nothing says "team bonding" quite like traveling to Italy together and the BW Men's and Women's Soccer teams had the opportunity to step out of their comfort zones and do just this spring.

After kicking off the trip in Milan, the teams traveled though Italy, stopping in Como, Pisa, Tuscany, Florence and ending in Rome. The players were given time to explore each city and visit famous historical sites such as the Leaning Tower of Pisa and The Colosseum in Rome. They also had the once in a lifetime experience to see the Italian soccer teams Juventus and Inter Milan play at the San Siro Stadium in Milan.

Pre-game photo of the Women's team in Sarzana, Italy

Both teams played three challenging games against borderline professional soccer teams along the way. Senior Assistant Coach Louie Rolko explained that "our players were not able to use their athleticism to break these difficult teams down and instead were forced to think through problems." As a result, they developed some great chemistry that will be beneficial during the upcoming season.

Off the field, Rolko noticed social bonding, as well.  Junior Justin Ball summed up his experience in Italy this way: "The trip allowed for all of us to be together for an extended period of time which did a world of good for all of us and I believe that now I am closer to every member of both teams."

Life Changing International Travel Marks May Term

Close to 60 students and five faculty members packed their bags and spent May term abroad on three very exciting and very different international experiences in China, London and Costa Rica.

Twenty-one students and two faculty members, Professor John Fuehrer and Dr. Liya Wang, traveled to China for a three week business and sociology-based exploration for students who took the Modern China course during the Spring 2015 semester.  Students focused on what it's like to do business in China's major cities and how understanding cultures can help when doing business globally. Students also visited cultural sites including the Great Wall, Forbidden City and different temples and monasteries. Other highlights of the trip included experiencing a new culture and trying different kinds of food.

The theatre Seminar in London was a nine day theatre tour that exposed students to a variety of theatrical performances as well as the history of the London theatre and the city in general. Twenty-three students traveled with two faculty members, Professors Jeff Herrman and Bob Taylor. The students attended eight shows in a variety of London locations, including The Globe Theatre, where Shakespeare's plays were performed in the 1600's. They also toured the city and visited different museums.  For many, visiting Stratford, where Shakespeare was born and laid to rest was a unique and favorite part of the trip.

BMC Photography

For 12 days, 14 students and biology professor Dr. Chris Stanton, explored the biology and sustainability of Costa Rica and the country-wide sustainability progress that has been made in 2015. The group traveled the country by bus and did a variety of activities such as hiking, boating and community service projects all while interacting with the locals, learning about the culture and seeing the various habitats and wildlife. One day was spent zip lining through the Tropical Dry Forest.

For more stunning photos from the trip, you can visit this Costa Rica Facebook gallery posted by recent BW studio art grad and owner of BMC Photography, Brittney Callahan '15.

Studying abroad at Baldwin Wallace allows students to enhance their personal growth, educational experience and career development. BW is part of the national "Generation Study Abroad" initiative and working toward doubling the percentage of students who gain this life-changing experience by 2019.

StudentAdvisor Features BW Advice on Study Abroad Apps

When StudentAdvisor wanted to know how students studying around the world could make use of a smart phone even without a cellular signal, Baldwin Wallace University study broad specialist Kristen Catrina stepped in as an expert resource. In a guest column, titled 10 Useful OFFLINE Apps for Study Abroad Students, Catrina compiles a list of 10 very useful apps that will work without an expensive global cell phone plan.

Catrina's list includes the free, electronic guidebook, Triposo, plus language and food allergy translators, currency converters and more. Check out the complete list at studentadvisor.com and, as always, check out BW Study Abroad/Explorations on the web for even more resources!

BW Student Chronicles Adventures In Morocco

Nikita Martin '17

From the unpredictable winter weather of Northeast Ohio to warm and sunny Morocco, Nikita Martin '17, has enjoyed the change of climate during a semester abroad. Martin and another BW student, Hannah Toberman '17, are studying at Al Akhawayn University located in Ifrane, Morocco. This trip has allowed the students to fully and independently immerse themselves in a new culture.

Students visiting Oudaya, Morocco

Nadia, Nikita '17 (middle) and
Hannah '17 (right) surfing in Rabat

Ifrane, a city in Northern Morocco where English, French and Arabic are the spoken languages, contains an abundance of lakes, mountains and greenery. At Al Akhawayn University, the students stay in dorms, have a meal plan and take classes in different disciplines.

Martin, who describes Morocco as being "absolutely beautiful," has been documenting her adventures on her travel blog, "Marhaba Morocco," where she describes many adventures including a recent spring break trip where she stayed in a tent village, rode a camel in the Sahara, visited the famous main square of Marrakech, and dined on "tasty" sea urchins and sting ray.

Martin, an international studies and political science double major,  is one of five BW students who are blogging their experiences abroad this spring semester.

BW Grad Goes Global

BW alumnus, Dylan Davis '03 has recently earned an appointment as The Asia Foundation's new Country Representative in Seoul, South Korea, the latest step in a fascinating international career that was sparked by an undergraduate study abroad experience.

The Asia Foundation is a nonprofit international organization that seeks to improve lives, expand opportunities and help Asian nations unite and flourish. The longstanding partnership of The Asia Foundation spans across 18 Asian countries.

Prior to his appointment, Davis was involved in 
extensive in-country work with Korean and American institutions. Davis also served in the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Seoul and most recently, as Program Director for the Center for Korean Studies at the University of California, Berkeley.

While attending BW, Davis majored in both psychology and music. As an undergrad, he studied abroad in Seoul and told political science and international studies professor Dr. Judy Krutky that "I have you and Baldwin Wallace to thank for the study abroad experience at Ewha that led to a Fulbright grant, and now this new opportunity."

Davis has received many awards from high-level institutions around the globe. His tenure as Country Representative in Seoul will begin on March 2.

BW Experiences Help Shape Grad's State Department Career

Coniam in one of the State Department's

original diplomatic reception rooms

Kimberly Coniam ’07, a Foreign Affairs Officer for the Office of Missile Defense and Space Policy at the U.S. Department of State in Washington D.C., is thriving in an amazing career in national security and space policy, traveling the world from South Africa to Vietnam, working to improve the security of outer space.

A graduate with majors in both political science and international studies, Coniam says she first became passionate about national security writing her first academic research paper for a class taught by Dr. Morales-Ortiz. Coniam says this experience eventually led to a yearlong internship at the U.S. Department of State where she was able to apply her research to real world situations.

Participating in BW's Model UN and studying various international organizations also helped the Berea, Ohio native to further develop an interest in foreign affairs. "I can better navigate in an often challenging multilateral setting because of those experiences," she says.

Visiting the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency outside Tokyo

Coniam, who also earned a master's degree at Indiana University, says the opportunity to study abroad twice, first to China and then to Japan, not only reinforced her strong interest in U.S.-Asia relations, but also played an important role in her selection for the 18th class of Mansfield Fellows. The government fellowship program allowed her to work within the Japanese government for a year. "I know the adaptability and independence I gained from my study abroad opportunities contributed to my success."

Coniam adds that "the most crucial [factor] in shaping me and leading to my success" was the mentoring of Dr. Judy Krutky, who "pushed me to always expand my interests, try new things, and never settle; under her instruction, I was taught that it is important to try something new and do something unexpected, and that often these new experiences will be the most rewarding."

Psychology and Public Health Majors Serve in Ghana

For many students, summer includes bonfires at the beach, road trips with friends, and naps by the pool. Two Baldwin Wallace students, Nuha Alshabani ’15 (pictured above) and Mary McHale ’16, spent part of their summer serving in the Cape Coast of Ghana on issues related to public health and education. Both have plans to return to the African nation.

As part of their ProWorld-Intrax internships, Nuha and Mary assisted Cape Coast teachers in classrooms for students with disabilities. The pair also interned in a department for social welfare focusing on health promotion for such issues as HIV/AIDS awareness, personal hygiene, and basic first aid.

While living in Ghana, Nuha and Mary faced the challenges that come with cultural immersion. Both students noted that their liberal arts education at BW helped prepare them. Nuha said, “I realized how important a liberal arts education is and how it can prepare you for practical issues. I felt like I had knowledge in many different areas that I could draw on to help me in my internship and interactions in the community.”

Mary found the experience to be a confidence booster. “I think I have become a friendlier person. In Africa, everyone says hello to each other, and since I have left, I’ve definitely picked that up and do it in the States.”

As a Public Health major, Mary’s experience also supported her career development. She aspires to attend graduate school for public health and an accelerated nursing program after earning her undergraduate degree, and would like to serve in the Peace Corps. After graduation, Nuha hopes to apply her degree in Psychology towards becoming a child and family counselor.

This December, Mary and Nuha will return to Ghana to continue their internships during winter break.

BW Senior Takes Summer Studies to Peru

Amanda Van Gilder ’15 broke international boundaries this summer as she assisted as a researcher with Aporvidha, a human rights firm located in Cusco, Peru.

An international studies and spanish double major from Akron, Amanda conducted interviews and reviewed academic resources to explore issues relating to human and indigenous rights in the Peruvian city.

“Knowing I would have access to large amounts of research, I figured I could take and elaborate on what I learned from [Dr. Judy Krutky’s Capstone seminar] and look at national security from a social and human rights perspective,” she explains. Hands-on experience was crucial in making her time this summer special, she says, as she was able to interact face to face with members of marginalized and indigenous communities.

Back at BW, she intends to carry her passion for Peru’s social issues into her studies by turning her findings into an Honors Program thesis. Amanda is also involved as a BW CIG fellow and has assisted refugees through an internship with the International Institute of Akron. After graduation, Amanda plans to continue her education pursuing a Master’s degree in International Development.

Rising Senior Making a Difference in Costa Rica

Maddy Simboli '15 is spending part of her summer interning with a nonprofit in Costa Rica. The BW International Business and Spanish double major is volunteering for the San José-based Rahab Foundation, which helps rehabilitate men, women, and children that have been affected by or involved in the sex trade.
 
Maddy is also "Crowdrise" fundraising for a Rahab Foundation youth camp that focuses on preventing the commercial sexual exploitation of minors. "My work here has been very fulfilling, and my Spanish has improved a lot," she tells us via email. "I am very excited to return this fall and share my experiences with everyone at BW."

As part of her International Study Abroad (ISA) experience, Maddy, who hails from Grafton, Ohio, has also enjoyed some time exploring Costa Rica and interacting with the wildlife. "I am enchanted by the wildlife here," she writes.

Maddy even went for a hair-raising bungee-jump while sporting her best Baldwin Wallace gear. You'll need to read the BW inscription on her sweatshirt upside down in the YouTube video linked below!

Current BW students intrigued by Costa Rica as a study abroad destination should note that BW Explorations/Study Abroad is currently accepting application for the Spring 2015 Discover Costa Rica program that will be led by BW Biology professor Dr. Chris Stanton in conjunction with ISA.

July in Paris S'il Vous Plaît

July in Paris means a stop for une crème glacée!

April in Paris? Au contraire!

Nine BW students, led by BW Art History professor Dr. Marc Vincent, are spending July in Paris, seeing the "real" City of Light in a 4-week language and culture intensive program offered by BW Explorations/Study Abroad.

This is the first faculty-led summer exploration for BW; such programs usually run in the spring or fall. "A Summer in Paris" is being offered in conjunction with MICEFA's summer program at the Institut Catholique.

MICEFA is a consortium of 14 French universities created "to promote cultural and scientific cooperation between France and Anglophone North America."

The BW contingent will return to the Ohio on August 1.

From BW English Major to 2nd in Command of the US Coast Guard

On the heels of an announcement by the White House that Vice Admiral Peter Neffenger '77 has been nominated for promotion to the number two post at the U.S. Coast Guard, the USCG Deputy Commandant for Operations came "home" to BW earlier this month.

Neffenger told a Plain Dealer reporter covering the visit that he arrived at BW without a career plan. "But 'I was exposed to a world of ideas,' then to the literal world abroad during a junior year in Europe."  That trip abroad was BW's first Humanities Year, the precursor to the Seminar in Europe program.

The newspaper also reported that "Neffenger returned to BW at his own expense because he was so eager to talk with students and faculty. Last year, he hosted two undergraduates, Sarah Brigadier and Charles Henderson, at the International Maritime Organization's biennial meeting in London."

The Chronicle Telegram newspaper also ran a story about the visit by this distinguished BW graduate under the headline, "Elyria native tapped for second-highest Coast Guard post visits Baldwin Wallace."

If confirmed buy the Senate, Neffenger's nomination to be the next vice commandant of the Coast Guard will take effect in May.

BW's Seminar in Europe Touches Down in Athens

And they're off! BW students arrived in Athens this week,  the first stop along their six-week tour through Europe, with visits to Delphi and Olympia, Greece; Florence, Rome, and Venice, Italy; Munich, Germany and London, England, before returning to the US on May 1. 

Seminar in Europe, a biennial Explorations/StudyAbroad experience, has been exposing BW students to the vast history of Europe for nearly three decades. The seminar involves eight weeks of intensive study and orientation on BW’s campus, followed by the six weeks of travel. Since 1976, more than 500 students from BW have participated in this seminar and its predecessor, the Humanities Year Program.

Students Witness a Piece of History in South Africa

BW Students in Cape Town, South Africa

The enrichment gained from study and service abroad was bumped up a notch for a group of 19 BW students and three professors on the BW faculty-led trip, "Peace, Reconciliation, and the Arts in Northern Ireland and South Africa." With the death of South Africa's great statesman, Nelson Mandela, announced on one of their final days in Cape Town, the students and professors witnessed 'Madiba's' people in mourning, some joining tens of thousands of South Africans in signing condolence books set up around the country.

"Nelson Mandela was more than a person, more than the first black President of the Republic of South Africa: He was Madiba, the father of the new South Africa. He was a symbol of Hope. He was a symbol of Peace. He was a symbol of Freedom," wrote Kody Luczak in his travel blog. "The mood in Cape Town was eerie. Normally, the street our house was on bustled with activity. About a half an hour after the news broke of Madiba's death, I went out to see if anything was happening. It was silent: no sounds, no activity, nothing."

"There was an outpouring of emotion, but mostly in the form of remembrances, anecdotes, and well-rehearsed accounts of 'Madiba's' deeds and place as an icon here," said Herbert "Butch" Marshall, associate professor of Music Education. "It has been a powerful finale to a powerful seven weeks for our students... and we are all touched by the gravity of this occasion."

The students were featured in a NewsChannel 5 TV report when they returned to Ohio, and you can read more from one student's perspective, Chynna Smith of Lorain, in a Morning Journal newspaper article.

Student to Debut Solo Photography Exhibition

Cameron Dunbar '14 will showcase the beauty and humanity of South Korea's capital city in "From the Seoul," a solo photography exhibition at Negative Space Gallery in downtown Cleveland from December 28 to January 24 of the new year.

"My show 'From the Seoul' focuses on my experience in South Korea last summer," says Dunbar. "I wanted to experience being in a completely different culture half way around the world, and explore how even the mundane is life changing."

Dunbar works as a BW photographer/videographer and is finishing his undergraduate degree in film. For more information, visit www.r3dglasses.com

BW Grad Teaching English Abroad

Katie (far right) with some BW visitors at the
Prague Castle. Left to right; Laura Lagania '14,
Fransiska Ong '12 and Lauren Franko '12

Katie Battaglia '12, an International Studies and Spanish double major, has been on the go since graduating from Baldwin Wallace University.

Katie left for Prague to earn a certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language. She managed to visit six countries before taking on a full time teaching schedule at two language schools.

Katie says, "My favorite part about teaching is the cultural exchange I get to have with my students. Not only am I teaching them English, but they are always telling me about Czech culture, places to visit, festivals to go to, and foods to try. So far, my life here has been wonderful."

Student Immersed in Culture at University of Cape Coast

Alex Nagy '13, studying International Studies and National Security at BW, is taking experiential learning to a whole new level this semester. Stepping outside the traditional learning environment, Alex is studying at the University of Cape Coast in Ghana, Africa.

Nagy observes, "As a student from the most politically and economically powerful country in the world, Ghana enables me to see the perspective of the world stage from a developing country; a perspective which cannot be gained from any amount of academic literature."

Anyone interested in following Alex's adventures can check out his photo blog. The photo right shows a network of roped bridges that Nagy navigated high up in the canopy of the rainforest in the Kakum National Park.

To find out more about study abroad opportunities at BW, visit the BW Explorations pages.

BW Student Lands Internship At Dateline NBC

BW student Ronald Woodburn '15 has earned an internship at Dateline NBC in New York City this fall semester. As a Broadcasting and Mass Communications major, the opportunity is golden, for he has picked up much knowledge and real world experience in the professional broadcast network setting.

As a student from a small town, Ronald says that he never would have thought of being able to live in the biggest city in the world. Achieving this dream, with the help of BW's Explorations/StudyAbroad office, has been humbling, so he offers tips to future interns that want to find identical opportunities.

Ronald advises:

• Apply, apply, apply
• Get to know the company, what they do, and who the major players are
• Be able to ramble off facts about the company like you've known them your whole life
• If your interviewer asks, "Do you have any questions?" then ask, even if it is a minor inquiry. 
• If they don't ask that, then ask a question anyway!