Office of Global Programs Newsletter – Spring 2026

Year in Review Year in Review

Going Going Global Global

with Grove City College with Grove City College

The Stan and Karen Johnson Office of Global Programs

Meet the new OGP Team!

Letter from the Director

What a year it has been! There is much to celebrate for the Office of Global Programs. We sent over 100 students abroad, created our largest portfolio of travel courses ever for next year, brought back the International Scholar Award, and transformed the Global Education Celebration into a week-long festival of internationally-themed events contributed by every corner of campus. 2025 grad, Catherine Maher, was a finalist and had her short film, "Found Self," screened at the IES Study Abroad Film Festival in Vienna, Austria.

Kudos to our amazing 25-26 staff & student workers:

Semester Study Abroad

20 students in 8 countries

1

4

3

84 students participated in Travel Courses this year!

led by Erik Anderson and Erik Bardy

After exploring locations related to SSFT 212 in the city of Paris, students spent several days in Germany visiting Cologne, Mainz, and Neander Valley.

France & Germany Italy Travel Courses

led by Michael Coulter and Kristen Barbour

Students received credit for HUMA 200 (Western Civ), HUMA 202 (Civ Lit) and POLS 101 (Foundations of Political Science) while exploring Rome and Florence to see the Colosseum, the Pantheon, Vatican City, the David and the Duomo.

Ecuador

led by Linda Culbertson and Susan Dreves

Students travelled throughout Ecuador (including Quito and the Galápagos Islands) teaching and earning credit for EDUC 324 (Teaching Elementary Social Science) and EDUC 387 (Field Experience in Education).

Greece

led by Don Shepson and Annie Shepherd

In partnership with Footstep Ministries, students travelled throughout Greece covering HUMA 202 (Civ Lit), HUMA 271 (Scripture & Theology 2), BIBL 236 (NT Books), and WRIT 390 (Travel Writing).

Japan

led by Seulgi Byun

Students received credit for HUMA 303 (Christ Civ) and RELI 248 (World Religions) while travelling through Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Osaka, and Hakodate.

Other Summer International Opportunities

Archaeological Conservation Institute (ACI)

14studentstraveledtoItalyandGreecewithMarkGrahamandJosiahHall forconservationprojectsthatincludedlectures,discussions,andfieldwork.

Orbital Engineering Internships

TwoengineeringstudentswereawardedinternshipsinPhnom Penh,Cambodiathatincludeddiscipline-specificprojectsaswell asleadershiptrainingandserviceopportunities.

Women's Soccer Trip to South Africa

TheGCCwomen'ssoccerteamtraveledwithCoachMelissaLamietoCape Town,SouthAfricatoleadsoccercampsthere.(picturedabove).

Global Outreach

ManagedbytheChristianFormationOffice,GOstudentsserved withmissionsorganizationsinvariouslocationsaroundtheworld includingCambodia,Indonesia,Kenya,Germany,andNorthAfrica.

Hi! My name is Lydia Szymanski,andIamasenior elementaryeducationmajor hereatGroveCity.Thispast June I had the opportunity to go to Iceland, Norway, and Finland through the OGP! This was my second faculty lead travel course, first with Biblical Revelations sending me to Israel in May of 2023 and now Issues in Education taking me to Scandinavia. I loved both trips so much, it is such a unique experience to travel with your professors.Youquicklyform such a deeper connection with them, your classmates, andthecontent.

Whiletakingatravelcoursedoestendtohavealighterloadthantakingitoncampus,they are much more than an ‘easy out.’ It provides such a rich experience as you travel the world with your peers. Being abroad for Issues in Education allowed me to truly feel the effects of what we were learning about. For part of the class, we talked about the book When Learned Men Murder: Essays on the Essence of Higher Education by David Patterson. This book explores the Wannsee Conference and what went wrong with education that allowed for thesemen,whoreceivedvariousdegrees,toplanthe“FinalSolution”regardingtheJews.The book on its own was impactful but pairing it with a trip to Norway’s Resistance Museum in Oslomadeitsomuchmoreinfluential.

We were given the opportunity to walk throughacollectionofNorwegianresistance to the occupation of Norway from 1940 to 1945. The array of equipment, photos, and documents did not sit with us lightly, allowing the book to come alive before our eyes. I know that the feeling of walking through the museum after reading the book willalwaysstaywithme.

Outsideofclasswork,exploringcountries andexperiencingtheirculturesissoexciting. InIcelandIadmiredmassivewaterfalls,black beaches, and glaciers. In Norway I tried Norwegian waffles, reindeer hot dogs, whale jerky, and sea urchin. In Finland I jumped in the Baltic Sea and spent hours at the local market. For me, traveling opens my eyes to how great our God is. His creativity and intentionality in every place I’ve been leaves me speechless. I am so grateful that I have been given the opportunity to experience Himthroughouttheworld.

“Most Refreshing” TEA TASTING

Parkhurst Dining Services

“Best Comfort Food” KOREAN COOKING CLASS

Pan-Asian Association

“Most Interactive” IRISH DANCE & CÉILÍ WORKSHOP Modern Languages

“Most Colorful” MANDALA STONE PAINTING

Tri-Zetas Sorority

“Le plus cinématographique!” FRENCH FILM SCREENING Modern Languages

“Most Fun” CROKINOLE TOURNAMENT Office of Global Programs

“Best Wow Factor” BAGPIPES PERFORMANCE

Krimson Kilts

“Deep Thoughts” INTERNATIONAL POETRY READING Cogitare

“Brightest Voices” SIYAHAMBA PERFORMANCE Koinonia Gospel Team

“Most Uplifting” SPANISH WORSHIP SERVICE

Modern Languages

“Fantastic Finale” SPRING ROLL COOKING CLASS

Parkhurst Dining Services

“Most Delicious” CHOCOTORTA DEMONSTRATION Spanish Club

“Most Encouraging” COOKING & CORRESPONDENCE Student Involvement Council

“Best Poster” SECRETS OF ROME History Department

“Most Collaborative” INTERNATIONAL JOB/INTERNSHIPS Career Services, Graduate School, Winklevoss School of Business

“Greatest Celebration” WORLD FAIR

“Most Educational” INTERNATIONAL BOOK DISPLAY Buhl Library

“Most Diverse” PIN YOUR HOME MuKappa

“Standing Room Only” INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIPS Career Services & Fulbright

“Most Competitive” AMERICA & THE WORLD TRIVIA Young Americans for Freedom

Many thanks to our Global Education Celebration Week Raffle prize sponsors: GCC Bookstore, Modern Languages Department, Alumni Relations, Parkhurst, Here’s Howe, Grove City Vitality Natural Health & Wellness, The Enchanted Olive, & Roosters Coffee Bar

2025-26 Faculty/Staff Appreciation Award Lindsay Luciano

The Office of Global Programs is pleased to recognize Lindsay Luciano, Associate Director of Career Services, for her outstanding contributions to the internationalization of Grove City College. For the past two years she has gone above and beyond the call of duty to step in and help lead the International Student Care Team and serve as a designated School Official, a role which enabled our international students and our institution to remain compliant with complex immigration regulations. Not only did she devote countless hours to the well-being of our students , but she was an invaluable resource whose knowledge and expertise made a huge difference. On top of that, she also contributed not one,buttwotop-notcheventstotheGlobalEducationCelebrationWeekincluding one of the most well-attended “Standing Room Only” sessions that kicked off the week—a guide for students interested in international post-graduate fellowships liketheFulbright. Hercontributionsraisethecaliberofthecollegeandwhetherit is presenting at the Study Abroad Re-Entry Workshop or advising a student on teaching abroad in Korea after graduation, she always gives her whole heart and demonstratesherdesiretohelpGroveCityCollegestudentsgrowandachieve.

Summer 2027