2008 Woodie Awards
Students spend semester at sea
Chris Heinrich
Issue date: 8/31/07 Section: News
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The traditional study abroad program: living with a local family or in student housing while attending a foreign university. Semester at Sea: quarters aboard a 24,000-ton converted cruise ship that visits multiple continents over a three-month voyage.
Gonzaga University has a history of participation in the University of Virginia's Semester at Sea and continued it when 11 members of the Gonzaga community spent 100 days aboard the MV Explorer this spring.
"There is no better study abroad program," wrote Kevin Oury, a senior, in an e-mail.
Departing from the Bahamas, the ship made port calls throughout the Caribbean before traveling to southeastern Asia via South Africa.
Beth Hellwig-Olson, dean of student services at Gonzaga, served as dean of student life for the multi-continental population of the MV Explorer during this spring's voyage.
"It was an incredible life experience," she said, one which she has been anticipating for years. When she first interviewed for a position at Gonzaga eight years ago, Hellwig-Olson specifically inquired into the possibility of participating in the voyage.
As dean of student life, she oversaw student groups and events on board, including a memorial service for the Virginia Tech shooting.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a long-time activist of equality in South Africa and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, served as a guest lecturer for the duration of the voyage.
"It was like God decided to bless this voyage," Hellwig-Olson said of the opportunity to meet and get to know Tutu and his wife.
During a typical day at sea, everyone aboard was required to attend Global Studies, a class about the history and culture of the next country where the ship would make port. Students would spend the rest of the afternoon in a variety of other classes including Introduction to Archaeology and Cross-Cultural Psychology. Evenings were spent working on homework and taking advantage of the ship's facilities like a full basketball court or other activities, including open mic nights.
Gonzaga University has a history of participation in the University of Virginia's Semester at Sea and continued it when 11 members of the Gonzaga community spent 100 days aboard the MV Explorer this spring.
"There is no better study abroad program," wrote Kevin Oury, a senior, in an e-mail.
Departing from the Bahamas, the ship made port calls throughout the Caribbean before traveling to southeastern Asia via South Africa.
Beth Hellwig-Olson, dean of student services at Gonzaga, served as dean of student life for the multi-continental population of the MV Explorer during this spring's voyage.
"It was an incredible life experience," she said, one which she has been anticipating for years. When she first interviewed for a position at Gonzaga eight years ago, Hellwig-Olson specifically inquired into the possibility of participating in the voyage.
As dean of student life, she oversaw student groups and events on board, including a memorial service for the Virginia Tech shooting.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a long-time activist of equality in South Africa and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, served as a guest lecturer for the duration of the voyage.
"It was like God decided to bless this voyage," Hellwig-Olson said of the opportunity to meet and get to know Tutu and his wife.
During a typical day at sea, everyone aboard was required to attend Global Studies, a class about the history and culture of the next country where the ship would make port. Students would spend the rest of the afternoon in a variety of other classes including Introduction to Archaeology and Cross-Cultural Psychology. Evenings were spent working on homework and taking advantage of the ship's facilities like a full basketball court or other activities, including open mic nights.