Since 2009, when Meredith College’s permanent study abroad location was established in Sansepolcro, Italy, the College’s 16th-century palazzo has hosted four semester study abroad programs, four summer study abroad programs, three alumnae travel programs, and numerous visits by faculty and other Meredith College friends.

 

Meredith’s long-running Italy/Switzerland study abroad program was again based in Sansepolcro. This summer, the palazzo was also the site for a new study abroad program called Eat, Play, Design. Fourteen students, led by Professor of Interior Design Ellen Goode and Professor of Child Development Kathryn Clark, spent three weeks in Italy. Courses offered were Play: Cross Cultural Perspectives and Italian Design Studio. Professor of Interior Design Martha Burpitt also accompanied the group.

 

While they were away, students wrote travel journals for publication on Meredith’s website, including insights on what they observed in classrooms and other settings.

 

“Our child development group had the opportunity to observe a kindergarten, church service and a summer camp,” student Kimberly Koenig wrote in her travel journal. “Being able to see these children in these three separate settings was very exciting, considering there were differences between Italy and America, but also some similarities.”

 

“We have visited several schools and talked to several teachers and parents on the Italian education system,” wrote Kayla Stanley. “One school we visited in Perugia used a Montessori approach, which is used in the United States as well, but it was very interesting to examine the differences. I have discovered several new ideas and techniques that I cannot wait to implement in my classroom.” 

 

Younger students with a Meredith College connection also visited Italy this summer. Cantabile Singers, the advanced choir of the Capital City Girls Choir at Meredith College, stopped in Sansepolcro as part of a 10-day tour of Italy. Capital City Girls Choir is a vocal and music training program for girls from Raleigh, North Carolina, and the surrounding communities. The choir is conducted by Professor of Music Fran Page, head of the Department of Music.

 

Twenty-five high school aged singers participated in the tour, which featured performances in Rome, Perugia and Sansepolcro. During their stay in Sansepolcro, they presented a joint concert with the Collegium Vocale Tifernum. They also traveled to Perugia to perform as a part of the Musica dal  Mundo, an international choral festival.

 

For more information on the Capital City Girls Choir, visit http://www.meredith.edu/music/ccgc.htm. To learn more about the Eat, Play, Design program, read student travel journals at www.meredith.edu/travel-journals.

In this Issue:

Meredith Welcomes the Class of 2015
President Jo Allen Delivers First State of the College Address
Sustainability Spotlight: Meredith Energy Management Update

New Facilities Maintenance Manager Joins Meredith Staff
Sansepolcro Site Visited by a Wide Range of Students
Meredith Fund Family Festival Invite
Faculty/Staff Accomplishments
Upcoming Events
News Briefs

 

Have you presented research or attended a professional meeting recently? Has your department earned an award? Share news of these accomplishments and more with the Meredith community. Faculty and staff are invited to email items to Melyssa Allen, “Campus Connections” editor, at allenme@meredith.edu.