Study-abroad opportunities varied

Posted on Friday, November 19, 2021

More than half of LaGrange College’s students take advantage of study-abroad opportunities during their time on the Hill, and that number earned recognition this week from Open Doors, a group that studies undergraduate study-abroad participation rates. 

“We ranked 29th out of the top 40 baccalaureate colleges with study-away programs,” said Michele Raphoon, Coordinator of the Office of Global Engagement. “It’s a real testament to our commitment to offer our students a broader view of the world.” 

Most of those journeys have been during January’s Interim Term and May Away courses, but there are programs available for longer terms of study. Raphoon said the college mainly partners with Methodist International Student Exchange Network, American Universities Abroad and Study USA to coordinate such study-away programs.  

Experiences based in English-speaking countries are popular, she said. 

“There is the Irish American Scholars Program at colleges throughout Northern Ireland, the Frederick Douglass Fellowship in Dublin, Ireland, and a new partnership with the University of Roehampton in southwest London.”  

Roehampton was founded in the 19th century as a women’s college. Today its departments include dance, drama, theatre and performance, English and creative writing, humanities, life sciences, media, culture and language, psychology, social sciences and adult nursing. It also has a business school, law school and school of education. 

Learn more about Roehampton in this video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNIqol6lQak 

Raphoon said the college has a long-standing partnership with Study USA (for inbound Northern Ireland students) and the Irish American Scholars Program (outbound U.S. students). 

Political Science graduate Eric Keels ’10 attended Queens University in Belfast through IAP during his junior year. He said his time there changed his perspective on the world. 

“As I waited tables to earn extra money, I listened to the local people talking about their experiences during the Northern Ireland conflict,” he said. “That sparked an interest in the lasting legacies of violence.” 

Keels, who was this year’s Outstanding Young Alumnus, is now an assistant professor for international security at the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery.  

Raphoon thinks ethnically underrepresented students should consider Council on International Educational Exchange Frederick Douglass Global Fellows. 

“It is a fully funded summer program designed for students of color,” she said. “It will explore conflict and injustice from various angles and the leaders who sought to affect positive change for their communities and their countries.” 

The fellowship honors the legacy of Douglass who traveled abroad in 1845 and met with Irish reformer Daniel O’Connor. The American abolitionist took what he learned back to the U.S., where he agitated for positive social change. 

Keels said he had been unaware of Douglass’s impact in Northern Ireland until he saw a large mural of Douglass in Belfast. 

“The Catholic communities (particularly in Northern Ireland), identified heavily with the African American struggle for civil and political rights,” he said. “Beyond Douglass, there was a reverence for civil rights icons of the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s.” 

For more information about study-abroad opportunities, contact Raphoon at mraphoon@davidegalliani.com or visit the website.   

Campus notes   

Students gathered in the Bailey Room on Thursday to freshen up Christmas wreaths that will be hung around campus for the holidays. 

Several events have been planned for Stress Less Week leading up to finals. They include:  

Nov. 29 

• Tie-Dye, noon-2 p.m., library plaza 
• Movie Night – 8:30 -10 p.m., Dickson Assembly Room 

Nov. 30  

• Yoga and Meditation, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Dickson Assembly Room 
• Christmas in the Chapel, 8-10 p.m. 

Dec. 1 

• Game Night, 8:30-10 p.m., the Boopie 

Dec. 2 

• Massages, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Dickson Assembly Room 
• Seasonal Sendoff – 9-10 p.m., library plaza 

• Late Night Breakfast – 10 p.m.-midnight, Pitts Dining Hall 

Dec. 3 

• Slice & Go: Pizza and Encouragement, 8-9 p.m., library plaza 

Dec. 4 

• Panther Success Fuel, 7:30-8:45 a.m., library plaza 

Political Science majors Madison Demkowski ’22 and Chase Davis '23 were finalists for the Pajari Award for best paper at the Georgia Political Science Association, the first time LC has had two finalists. Madison presented on challenging the notion of race-based voting, while Chase presented on how Hispanics shifted strongly to the Democratic Party after a series of California Propositions. 

Nov. 30 is Giving Tuesday, a day to celebrate philanthropy and the difference it makes. Last year, donors helped raise more than $50,000 to support the education of young men and women on the Hill. Visit idzw.davidegalliani.com/givingtuesday by Nov. 30 and all gifts made will be matched up to $20,000 to support student needs. 

Saturday is Preview Day. If you see visitors on campus, please extend to them the famous LC welcome! 

We will be taking a break for Thanksgiving – @lagrange will return Dec. 3. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! 

Cultural Enrichment events     

Check LC Connect for Virtual CE events and instructions. For in-person events, all COVID guidelines apply.      

THROUGH NOV. 30 

LC Young Alumni Virtual Interview Series – Ben McMinn ’13, Entrepreneur 

• McMinn is director of StartUP Columbus, an organization focused on cultivating a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem to support entrepreneurs and successful startups. 

Resiliency – Gaining Strength Under Stress  

• The Counseling Center Lecture Series explores strategies for healthy habits and strategies of managing stress while building resiliency.  

NOV. 30 

Virtual Presentation and Q&A with Political Science graduate Robert Allen 

12:15-1:15 p.m., Corn Auditorium in Lewis Library 

• After graduating from LC, Allen became a Peace Corps volunteer in Moldova, the winner of the Pickering Award and is now a graduate student at the University of Texas. He will talk about his journey and share some advice and ideas. 

Sports   

Football 
Freshman Cameron Grady was named the USA South Defensive Rookie of the Year and to the conference's All-Conference second team. Junior De'queze Fryer and senior Joe Thomas were selected to the All-Conference first team. 

Men’s Basketball 
Senior Kyle Brown is the USA South Player of the Week for the week ending Nov. 14. The Panthers (3-1) lost 112-78 to NCAA Division II member Montevallo on Tuesday. Brown led LC with 19 points.  

 

Women’s Basketball 

The Panthers (3-3) lost 78-72 to visiting Pensacola Christian on Tuesday. Senior Jalaya Lewis led LC with a career high 21 points. 

CALENDAR 
Saturday 

• Women’s Basketball at Berea, 2 p.m., Berea, Kentucky 
• Men’s Basketball vs. Oglethorpe, 5 p.m., Mount Berry, Georgia 

Sunday 

• Men’s Basketball at Berry, 3 p.m., Mount Berry, Georgia 

Tuesday 

• Men’s Basketball at West Alabama, 7 p.m., Livingston, Alabama  

December faculty and staff birthdays 

2 – Dean Hartman 

3 – Amanda Plumlee 

6 – Cynthia Mayfield 

7 – Elizabeth Appleby 

9 – Gina Thompson 

15 – Kennet Fosuhene 

17 – David Kelton 

19 – Debby Baker 

20 – Vicki Pheil 

25 – Brandon Sewell 

31- Michele Raphoon 

In the headlines 

LaGrange College sports club walkathon benefits charity – LaGrange Daily News, Nov. 16, 2021 

http://www.lagrangenews.com/2021/11/16/lagrange-college-sports-club-walkathon-benefits-charity/ 

Video of the Week  

It’s a time to give thanks, and we want to thank all who have provided support to the students at LaGrange College. For some, that support carries forward after they are gone. Check out this month’s Inside LaGrange video to see how people’s forward-thinking generosity continues to change lives. 

Category: Students, College, Arts and Culture, Global engagement, Academics

Keywords: study abroad