Sophomore Expedition Program destination announced for Class of 2025
Cedar Crest College announced that the Class of 2025 will travel to Rome, Italy in 2023, as part of the Carmen Twillie Ambar Sophomore Expedition program, a short-term study abroad opportunity for all sophomores funded almost entirely by the College. The location was revealed during the Open Door Ceremony on Thursday, August 19.
All members of the Class of 2025, who choose to participate and are in good standing with the school, will embark on the Sophomore Expedition. The week-long trip to Rome will take place over spring break in 2023 with travel, lodging and meals fully funded by the College. The Sophomore Expedition is part of Cedar Crest’s commitment to building global perspectives.
“Through the Sophomore Expedition, our students learn about another culture, but they also learn about themselves,” said Cedar Crest College President Elizabeth Meade, Ph.D. “This global experience is often transformational and can open students’ eyes to possibilities they didn’t know existed.”
In its first few years, the program has proven to be a transformative experience for students, encouraging them to consider other international study and internship opportunities in the future. The Class of 2023’s trip to Costa Rica was rescheduled to this December, and the Class of 2024 plans to head to Marrakesh, Morrocco in March of 2022. Previous Sophomore Expeditions destinations included Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Athens, Greece and London, England.
The trip is both academic and experiential. Rome was chosen for its rich history and culture, as a founding site of western civilization and Catholicism and home to UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Courses will be based on varied themes from history and politics, arts and humanities, science and technology. The trip offers students interaction with locals through service-learning opportunities including historical preservation, serving Romans and refugees in need, helping Romans learn English and intercultural exchange with schools and community centers.
“At Cedar Crest College, we strongly believe in the importance of global education,” said Kelly Hall, Ph.D., director of global initiatives at Cedar Crest. “The prospect of international travel can be daunting right now as the world continues to recover from the global health crisis. The College is committed to providing this unique international opportunity, and we are prioritizing the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff and host country population. We are preparing for the Class of 2023’s trip to Costa Rica in December and are committed to providing these students with the same study-abroad opportunities and advantages available to previous classes.”