January 2019

Throughout intersession, I had the exciting opportunity to work as the social media intern in the Marketing Department at The University of Scranton! I worked roughly 20-30 hours a week maintaining the university’s presence on all social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, Flickr and more. 

My typical day on the job consisted of email outreach, content planning, scheduling social media posts using Hootsuite, updating social media statistics for analysis, and taking pictures. My main responsibility was the email outreach. I corresponded with students, faculty, and staff about writing a reflection, or answering questions for a Q & A regarding their intersession experiences which ranged from service trips to leadership opportunities, study abroad classes, research, etc. Once I received the content submissions I would send them to my supervisor for editing. Following editing, I uploaded the stories into the Content Management System (CMS) to be published in our January editions of Royal News.  

Since intersession is really short, there was not a lot of time to plan out content, which made it more challenging to strategically schedule the stories. I carefully planned out deadlines for reflections and Q & As so they would accommodate the contributor’s trip dates while providing a variety of material for our readers each week. For example, it would be redundant if one edition had three study abroad reflections back to back, so I scheduled a student study abroad reflection to be due in the same week that a faculty member was writing about a service trip or their intersession research. 

To make the most of my time at the internship, I wrote out daily to-do lists to help prioritize my tasks. I would often have up to 10 tabs open on my computer, so I could easily switch from one task to another which helped keep me in a productive mindset. If I found myself struggling to concentrate while working on one specific task for a prolonged period of time I would switch to working on something else on my list for an hour to allow my brain to switch gears and recharge.  

One of the major skills I learned while working there was how to use CMS. This software application is used by many companies to create and manage digital content such as newsletters and websites. Learning how to use CMS definitely makes me feel more prepared to step into the workplace after graduation. 

I expected there to be a lot of work on a computer going into this internship, so I wasn’t surprised when I spent a lot of time scheduling posts for Facebook and Twitter. However, I was pleasantly surprised at the nice balance of computer work and in-person work. In addition to typing Tweets, I also got to explore campus to take pictures for Instagram stories as well as interview individuals and write stories for The Scranton Journal. 

I would advise any college student to take an internship during intersession or another time of year because the things you learn working as an intern opposed to in the classroom tremendously add to your skill set and confidence in a workplace setting. Don’t be afraid to try something new! 

Recommendations for the 2019-2020 Peter S. Graybar Memorial Scholarship are being solicited. The scholarship will provide assistance for students entering their junior social year next fall.

The Peter S. Graybar Memorial Scholarship was created by the class of 1993 to honor a beloved friend and classmate. The Scholarship will be awarded to a student who is active in extracurricular and community service activities and demonstrates personal impact on fellow students.

Recommendation forms and information sheets can be found in the Financial Aid Office or at www.scranton.edu/financialaid. Click on Scholarships and Grants; Additional Scholarship Opportunities.

DEADLINE: Friday, March 1, 2019.

This article originally appeared in the Department of Political Science newsletter. 

Fr. Dan Sweeney of Political Science and Dr. Teresa Grettano of English and Theatre led 20 political science and international studies students to Washington, D.C. to compete in the Mid-Atlantic European Union Simulation Program. Given the large number of students enrolled in the course and simulation, University of Scranton students took on the roles of parliamentarians from two European countries, Ireland and Denmark this year.

Similar to previous years, students rose above the talented competition. The EU course developed by Dr. Gretchen Van Dyke continues to be one of the most formative experiences of political science and International Studies majors. Dr. Van Dyke will return to teaching the course when she returns from her sabbatical in fall 2019.

Read the Department of Political Science newsletter, here.

Campus Ministries’ Third Annual Commuter Retreat took place at the Chapman Lake Retreat Center on Jan. 18 and 19. The 19 students in attendance met at the Retreat House and broke into small groups to discuss a talk by student leader Rebecca Pierson about growth.

The groups shared the different ways their time and experiences at the University impacted them. Following small group discussions, we shared a meal dinner before moving into the next activity. Retreat participants planted herbs and succulents as a physical reminder of their own personal growth. We then prepared a meal and wrote letters for the Community Intervention Center (CIC).

The next morning, we participated in yoga led by student leader Julia Kerr and finished meal prep for the CIC. A talk given by student leader Meaghan Gavin about the importance of acts of service, both big and small, completed the retreat.

For a list of all the Spring 2019 retreats, check out the Retreat web page!

Alexandra Turner '19 works for PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in the New York City office as an Assurance Intern. She’s learning how to audit companies’ financial statements and verify that the information they present to the public is correct. 

Describe a typical day on the job.

There really is no typical day for me to be honest! I take the subway to work, and I am usually there right before 9:00 a.m. Depending on what is going on for the day, I either do work from the day before and wait until the associates come in to give me something to do. Most days I’m looking over information and finding where it came from, or entering data into spreadsheets so it can be analyzed, or doing any number of different things involving financial information. In addition to my other work, I’m also doing the typical intern duties of ordering lunch and dinner! Right now, in the accounting world, it is “busy season,” which means we are in the middle of are year-end audits of our clients, so there’s always a lot to do! Because of this, I’m usually at work until around 9/9:30 at night, and I work on Saturdays too.

What is the duration of your internship?

I started my internship at the beginning of January, and it ends right before spring break, so I won’t be back on campus for the start of the Spring semester. But, Scranton has some condensed classes available for me to take so I am still able to graduate on time!

What are some of the skills you have learned?

I have learned how to be professional in any type of environment, how to ask questions and how to work in a high-pressure environment. I have also learned different skills related to the accounting profession such as tying out lead schedules, completing auditing workpapers and using Excel!

How do you feel this internship prepared you for the real world?

It has exposed me to different people, different accounting principles and has shown me what type of work I will be doing post-graduation. I’ve really learned how to stay on top of tasks, how to make sure I’m on time in the morning and proved the work ethic that Scranton has instilled in me. After this internship, I know I’ll feel ready to start working at an accounting firm full time.

What advice would you give to college students pursuing an internship during intersession?

I would say to definitely take advantage of any internship opportunity, even if it is only for a month during intersession! Any experience is good experience, even if it’s only for a little while. For accounting majors, I think a winter internship is incredibly valuable because you are doing exactly what you would be doing if you had a full-time job. You get exposed to so much more of the accounting profession than you would be if you were interning during the summer. And, the overtime pay of time-and-a-half is pretty nice as well!

Jacklyn McGovern and several fellow junior and senior nursing majors took Healthcare Systems and Nursing Practice abroad over Scranton intersession at Trinity College Dublin. Here is McGovern's reflection. 

As a nursing major, it is difficult to study abroad for a full semester. The opportunity to go abroad to Ireland for two weeks over this winter intersession gave me a chance to do so. Additionally, the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Trinity College is ranked 1st in Ireland and 25th in the world, the chance to visit this campus and study there was something I did not want to pass up.

My favorite part of the trip is all the traveling we were able to do. From Galway to Dublin to the Blarney Castle near Cork and up to Belfast. We were able to go to the eastern, western, southern and northern ends of Ireland. All the scenery on the way to these sites, as well as the sites themselves, were amazing. Stopping on each bus ride to learn the history of so many sites was amazing. All the places we visited and the stops we made along the way were by far my favorite parts of the trip.

I learned about multiple health care systems. I gained information on the United States’, Ireland’s, Hong Kong’s and Taiwan’s healthcare systems. I was exposed to the similarities and differences between these systems as well as the advantages and disadvantages our system has compared to others. Along with this, I learned how the nursing education and profession in the United States and Ireland differ from one another. I also learned about the overall culture of Ireland and how it differs from the west coast in Galway to the east coast in Dublin.

This experience did change me. It gave me the opportunity to appreciate what we have here in the United States regarding health care and appreciate my nursing education. Meeting students not only from schools in Pennsylvania, but also students from Hong Kong, Taiwan and, of course, Ireland, provided me with connections and friendships I would not have formed otherwise. The overall relationships I formed on this trip is something that changed my life for the better.

I would highly suggest studying abroad to someone who is considering it. Some advice is to plan ahead and research all the different types of programs in order to find the best fit. I also recommend educating yourself about the country so you can understand the community and the culture you will be living in. It is also helpful to chat with someone who has already been to the country to discuss questions and concerns you may have before you leave.

It is important to have a global experience in college to see the world from a different lens. Studying abroad opens your mind to new ideas that may have gone undiscovered in your own home environment. A global experience in college allows you to explore a new culture and immerse yourself in the culture’s traditions and practices.

The course I took was Christianity in the Middle East, which involved a 10-day trip to Israel to not only see the many famous churches and monasteries of the Holy Land but to also learn about and interact with the “Living Stones” of the land. These “Living Stones” are the native inhabitants of the Holy Land tracing their lineages back centuries or more. Since the course is called Christianity in the Middle East, the “Living Stones” we focused on were Christians living in the Middle East, more specifically Palestinian Christians. From them, we learned of their history and plight under the current occupation they face by Israelis.

The TL;DR of my study abroad experience was it was a lot of bitter with a little bit of sweet, but ultimately rewarding. If you’re looking for a trip with beautiful sights and where you are neither confused or miserable nearly daily over the treatment of others, don’t take Christianity in the Middle East.

You do get plenty of beautiful sights whether you be looking out into a centuries-old church or looking out into the Judean wilderness, but you also get with it the stories of people trying to make the best of a bad situation. To a small extent you also get a chance to walk in the footsteps of these people by walking down the streets of once bustling cities, walk through checkpoints and along the separation wall. What someone can take from this experience is an opportunity to challenge themselves and better able to truly become “men and women for and with others,” the Ignatian value anyone at the University should have heard at least once.

When going into this study abroad trip I had no real intention of challenging myself or and expectation that this would be an emotionally heavy trip. I simply took it because I thought it would be interesting to go to Jerusalem while getting credits toward my minor.

My favorite part of the trip, other than the many kind and hospitable hosts and guides, was visiting St. Sabbas monastery. It was all I imagined a monastery would be. After visiting other monasteries and in the Holy Land, I had been left a little disappointed since they were more like visiting an attraction like the Niagara Falls. Right when you walk in you see a souvenir shop, then guides corralling 50 or so tourists/pilgrims. But St. Sabbas monastery was different. There was barely anyone there, and it was exclusive. I only managed to get in the front door because I was a man and because our professor was also Greek-Orthodox, and, even then, I only got onto a balcony right next to the front gate. Who would have thought that to be excluded I’d feel most special? It felt like somewhere special and not just an attraction.

What I took away from this experience was to challenge biases and presuppositions. I won’t pretend to be an expert on the Middle East after just 10 days there, but I think now that at least in the case of the Palestinian I’d say hospitable. This is also what I took from this trip to challenge yourself to face your presuppositions, which can only be done when you are uncomfortable.

To those interested in study abroad, I would say to just go for it. The process of applying is easy and it's at a pretty good price. Think of it this way where else can you get full room and board, food, transportation and knowledgeable guides for the same price.

2019-2020 Available Scholarships

Check out: scranton.edu/financialaid. Click on Scholarships and Grants; Additional Scholarship Opportunities. Refer to application for deadlines.

Deadline: April 26, 2019

The Times Shamrock Communications Scholarship

Leslie Fay Scholarship

Cinram Manufacturing Scholarship

The Fleet PA Services Scholarship

The United Gilsonite Laboratories Scholarship

TRL Associates Scholarship

The John and Lucille Guzey Scholarship

The James Burns Memorial Scholarship

Neal Fasula Scholarship

Irving Grossman Scholarship

Joseph Gallagher Scholarship

Purple Club Scholarship

Nearly 1,600 students were named to The University of Scranton’s Dean’s List for the 2018 fall semester. The Dean’s List recognizes students for academic excellence. A student must have a grade point average of 3.5 or better with a minimum number of credit hours during the semester to make the Dean’s List. The list includes students from the Jesuit university’s College of Arts and Sciences, Kania School of Management and Panuska College of Professional Studies.

Dean’s List students, listed alphabetically by college, can be seen here, as well as on Merit.

The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with The University of Scranton’s Small Business Development Center, has launched the Small Business Internship Fund, which seeks to place the area’s best and brightest students in Chamber member businesses. The fund will offer up to $500 in matching support to eligible Chamber member businesses to provide internships to area college students who meet the program criteria.

This program, announced Jan. 18, was funded by the business community through the sponsorship of the Chamber’s 150th Anniversary Celebration.

“Quality, paid internships are a win-win for students and employers,” said Bob Durkin, president, The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce. “The students gain valuable experience and learn about professional opportunities right here in our region, and our businesses benefit from the unique skills of talented young scholars who will be the foundation of our future workforce.”

Those wishing to participate in the program must be for-profit business members in good standing of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce and meet the United States Small Business Administration Size standards. Students participating in the program must be residents of Lackawanna County or enrolled at a Chamber member college or university.

“We are delighted that the Chamber is being proactive in establishing this fund to help connect small businesses with college students in our region,” said Lisa Hall Zielinski, director, The University of Scranton Small Business Development Center (SBDC). “Through our Small Business Internship Initiative, the SBDC will offer step-by step guidance, information and tools so these entrepreneurs can grow their businesses with the help of student interns.”

“Northeastern Pennsylvania is home to some of the best and brightest young minds in the country. I am pleased to see The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce is working with The University of Scranton Small Business Development Center investing in these future leaders with the hope that we can continue to grow and retain talent in the region,” said U.S. Senator Bob Casey.

For more information about the Small Business Internship Fund, visit www.scrantonchamber.com/internship.

About The Small Business Internship Initiative
Established by The University of Scranton Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in 2013, the Small Business Internship Initiative offers entrepreneurs the opportunity to grow their businesses with the help of local student interns, while providing students access to experiential learning close to campus. The SBDC provides confidential guidance to help clients determine whether hosting an intern is the right option along with assistance in preparing internship descriptions, guidance with conducting interviews and supervisory skills, and more. Internship opportunities are shared with Career Development partners and students at 11 regional colleges & universities and posted on smallbusinessinternships.com. Founding Partners include The University of Scranton Office of Community Relations, Lackawanna County Commissioners, The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, The City of Scranton, Scranton Tomorrow and the Career Development Departments at Clarks Summit University, Johnson College, Keystone College, Lackawanna College, Marywood University, Penn State Scranton and The University of Scranton.

About The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce
The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit organization that works to improve the area’s economic environment and quality of life by providing programs and services which stimulate economic growth, promote business prosperity and nurture educational opportunities. For more information about the Chamber, visit www.scrantonchamber.com.

The following students were added to The University of Scranton Dean’s List for the spring 2018 semester after publication of the list in June of 2018.

The Dean’s List recognizes students for academic excellence during the 2018 spring semester. A student must have a grade point average of 3.5 or better with a minimum number of credit hours to make the Dean’s List. The list includes students from the Jesuit university’s College of Arts and Sciences, the Kania School of Management and the Panuska College of Professional Studies.

Students added to the spring 2018 Dean’s List are:

This past summer, I interned at Visions Federal Credit Union as a Member Service Representative, a fancy name for a bank teller. I began my experience with three weeks of training. My day consisted of processing basic teller transactions such as making a deposit or withdrawal for a member to involved transactions like creating a bank check, cashing savings bonds or answering questions. I never felt alone on the job as all of my co-workers were always there for me and wanted to see me succeed.

At first, some members were hesitant for me to help them in such an important capacity as I am just a “kid” doing an adult’s job but as time went on that was not the case and some members preferred me helping them.

When I went into the internship, I definitely did not expect to be trusted with my own code for the vault, a set of keys and access to all members and records. In my head I thought I was just a kid in college, but to the company and my co-workers I was a valuable employee just like anyone else.

My favorite part of every week was when the Federal Reserve would make a delivery. Similar to ordering a pizza, every week we would order a certain amount of money in various denominations and the Fed delivered it! I was also responsible for referring members to various products at the credit union such as CD’s, credit cards and mortgages, which helped me improve my ability to sell and interact with others more personally.

I furthered my customer service skills each day, remembering the customer is always right. An intern is trusted to do everything other employees do, working alongside other experienced staff members no matter how silly or important a job may be, not just getting coffee or making copies.

I secured my next internship for this upcoming semester at McGrail, Merkel Quinn & Associates as an accounting Intern. I am very excited to be a part of an accounting firm during the busy tax season and feel even more confident as a result of the last internship I completed.

I highly recommend every student, no matter your major or year, to attend the Career Expo which is held on campus every semester. I met recruiters from both companies at the Career Expo, and when it came time for me to apply to these internships, the recruiters already knew me. I could not have secured my internships without the help of the staff at the Center for Career Development and the resources they offer such as Mock Interviews and Handshake. My advice to any student hoping to obtain an internship would be to attend the Career Expo, participate in other networking events on campus, create a LinkedIn profile and find a mentor or someone who can help you navigate the internship search.

Scranton has a great Alumni network that all students should take advantage of as connections are so valuable to your career success. Cheryl Collarini at the Career Center has been instrumental in my success thus far and always tells me “Who you know will get you the internship you desire, and what you know will keep you there and lead you to success.”

President Matthew Coughlin recently represented Scranton in the inaugural Winter Summit for the Jesuit Student Government Alliance at Saint Louis University. The Winter Summit hosted student government members from 21 Jesuit colleges and universities!

This past weekend, I attended the Jesuit Student Government Alliance’s first ever Winter Summit hosted by St. Louis University. The Jesuit Student Government Alliance (JSGA) is the newly created group of all Jesuit colleges and universities student body presidents. The Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU) recognized the JSGA this past Fall.

The Winter Summit was the inaugural meeting of the alliance. Representatives from over 21 Jesuit colleges and universities were in attendance from all across the country. The summit had various topic sessions and smaller discussion areas. The three main topic sessions were Diversity and Inclusion, Sustainability and Structure/Organization. Each topic session was an amazing learning experience because it provided examples of successful funding initiatives, programs and general methods to improve home institutions. Beyond the successful, the sessions highlighted areas where other institutions struggled to improve. Often, it was realized that institutions were not alone on issues that proved difficult to overcome, and this is where the ability to have face to face conversations with leaders from the numerous Jesuit institutions was invaluable. In addition, the summit provided discussion sessions that explained what each institution does well and where their weaknesses might be. After each discussion session, I would text members from our Student Government’s Senior Staff to update them on ideas and programs that I want to bring to The University of Scranton.

I think the importance of the JSGA cannot be emphasized enough. The ability to sit down and have conversations with student body presidents from numerous institutions gave insight beyond superficial conversations. Issues such as transforming student government associations’ images, racial incidents affecting campuses, the shootings in California, and so much more, touched Jesuit institutions in some manner and learning how different student governments addressed and attempted to tackle such problems on their campus represent why the JSGA will be so important. While our amazing community at Scranton might not be touched by some of the national headlines, we can always do more and help our national Jesuit family.

Keep an eye on Student Government over the next couple months for some significant projects and changes! I want to bring our special community at Scranton to a new level. We have a unique opportunity with a plethora of information from Jesuit colleges and universities at our fingertips. It is our opportunity to take our own restless pursuit of excellence and push ourselves to do more, be more involved and take an active approach towards improving our campus and local community.

The University of Scranton celebrated its 16 current Maguire Scholars at a gathering on campus recently.

Maguire scholarships are funded by The Maguire Foundation, founded by philanthropists James J. and Frances Maguire. The scholarship program provides graduates selected from 41 Philadelphia-area high schools (many of which are Catholic schools) with “last-dollar” financial support for four years of college at one of 28 partner institutions. Scranton has been a partner school since 2015.

Maguire Scholars, selected by their respective institutions, must maintain a G.P.A. above 3.0, be an active participant in school and/or community volunteer extra-curricular activities, and meet other requirements of the program.

The following students are current Maguire Scholars at Scranton (listed alphabetically by academic year):

Christiana Cruz-Council, Philadelphia, a senior communication major;

Daniel McNulty, Havertown, a senior marketing major;

Brian Price, Glenside, a senior accounting major;

Catherine Stapf, Warrington, a senior neuroscience major;

Kimberly Baxter, Philadelphia, a junior political science major;

Sonni Rose Mazzone, Philadelphia, a junior counseling and human services major;

Stas Postowski, Philadelphia, a junior marketing major;

Zachary Thomas, Philadelphia, a junior journalism - electronic media major;

Braden Francis Hood, Abington, a sophomore physics major;

Cianna Noelle Kisailus, Wyndmoor, a sophomore nursing major;

Sothea Nari Grace MacBain, Philadelphia, a sophomore health administration major;

Alex Sebastian Vallejo, Upper Darby, a sophomore criminal justice major;

Patrick Joyce, Glenside, a freshman undeclared major in the College of Arts and Sciences;

Jakob Hodlofski, West Chester, a freshman business administration major;

Madison Nord, Bryn Mawr, a freshman finance major;

Andrew Wisniewski, Southampton, a freshman nursing major.

Three University of Scranton students won medals at the Southern-Northern Atlantic Forensics Union tournament, which was held at Seton Hall University during the fall semester.

Juliet Baldassarri, a sophomore occupational therapy major from Baldwin, New York, won a third-place medal for Poetry Interpretation at the tournament. In addition, she and Kasidy Leggin, a sophomore physiology major from Archbald, won fourth-place medals for their Dramatic Duo Interpretation.

Morgan Fetsock, a sophomore criminal justice major from Scranton, won a sixth-place medal for Novice Impromptu Speaking.

Commuters are invited to take part in Campus Ministries’ annual Commuter Retreat beginning at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, January 18, 2019, and concludes on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, at 4:00 p.m. Commuter students will enjoy an overnight at Chapman Lake reflecting upon life as a commuter student. Three meals and overnight accommodations are included for the $5 retreat fee.

Contact amy.hoegen@scranton.edu with any questions. Students can register on Royal Sync.

“In the desert, you can remember your name.”  I'm not sure if the rock band America knew how profoundly contemplative their lyric was when they wrote it, but the words are spot on!

From December 16-22, 2018, the first of two Desert Experience Retreats this academic year took place in Death Valley, CA. This retreat experience is sponsored by the Office of Campus Ministries. Twenty student retreatants, four student leaders, and three faculty/staff chaperones took advantage of this unique opportunity to learn and practice the art of contemplation (or as is said on the retreat – “how to be present to Presence”). As the lyrics of the song intuit, the desert served as a great place for students to remember their true selves - who they really are, which is a key preliminary step to having a contemplative disposition. The five days of the retreat each revolved around different themes of contemplation (self-actualization, death, revelation/incarnation, perspective and surrender) and invited participants to explore how Presence resonates within the quiet nature of the different landscapes of the Park. 

Matthew Marcotte `21, who is pursuing an accounting degree in the Kania School of Management, was a retreatant this past December and had this to say: “A Desert Experience was a challenging experience for me both physically and spiritually. It offered a unique opportunity to think about and reflect on topics that have impacted my life in such large ways while seeing some of the most beautiful sights that I have ever seen. It’s an experience that has transformed my way of thinking forever.” 

The second Desert Experience retreat this year is set to take place during Spring Break with a new group of student participants, team and chaperones. For a list of all the Spring 2019 retreats, check out Retreat our web page soon!

MHA student Elizabeth Steele G’19 took the fall semester Global Health Management course’s trip to Slovakia. We asked her to answer a few questions about her trip.

What course did you take?

This course was HAD 596 European Health Systems. Our main location was the Slovak Republic but we also traveled to Austria, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and Hungry.

Tell us what your experience was like studying abroad.

Hearing my peers talk about the amazing sights, people, and experiences of traveling abroad is what initially piqued my interest in exploring the study abroad opportunities available through the MHA program. After talking with my program director about the different study abroad trips, I was given a choice between traveling to Brazil or the Slovak Republic. Although a difficult decision, I chose the Slovak Republic for two main reasons. The first was that we were going to travel to five different countries during our short 10-day trip and the second was due to my interest in the mental health programs in Europe. During this study abroad course we were required to do research on a topic of our choosing. Since mental health is an interest of mine, I was excited to do some research on their citizens access and ways to improve the growing need for mental health services globally and in Central and Eastern Europe.

Although this trip had many highlights, some of my favorite parts were the hospital tours. While we were in the Slovak Republic, we were able to tour two different hospitals. During the second tour, two nurses took us into the OR where we were able to observe a knee surgery as well as see the pre and post operation areas for their patients. Being in administration, we do not observe surgeries very often, so it was intriguing to watch.

Reflecting back on my experience, I can honestly say that I learned a lot from my time abroad. Not only were we briefly introduced to the culture of five different countries, but we were also exposed to random and interesting facts about each country’s history. In Amsterdam, we heard about the history of architecture, while in Austria, we learned of the monuments and castle structures.

This trip also changed how I viewed health care in other countries and even how I view our own system here in America. Although there are pros and cons to each country’s way of practicing medicine, it was interesting to see some vast differences in care. As a future administrator, it is important to observe other countries and bring home ways to improve our own delivery of care. Continuing education is a vital part of a health care administrators’ duty and will continue to help my future organization grow and succeed with the changing demographics, technology, etc. Overall, I would highly suggest every student to study abroad regardless of the duration or location of the trip.

What advice would you give to college students interested in studying abroad?

Do it. I was fortunate enough to study abroad during my undergraduate studies as well and I highly recommend it. This trip was different since it was only 10 days and I was presenting research, but it was still an unforgettable and informative experience. Regardless of where you go traveling, in my opinion, is one of the best ways to learn.

Why do you think it's important to have a "global" experience in grad school?

To truly understand another person’s beliefs, views, culture etc., I believe you need to be immersed in their culture and their way of life. Doing a study abroad trip, whether it is 5 months or 10 days, helps students to understand the differences that, in turn, unite us all.

Michael Spadavecchia, a senior majoring in entrepreneurship at The University of Scranton, was awarded a 2018 scholarship from Sigma Nu Tau, the national honor society for entrepreneurship. He was among just four students in the country selected to receive a $1,250 scholarship awarded by the honor society in 2018.

In addition to academic requirements, Sigma Nu Tau scholars, each of whom were nominated by their colleges and universities, were selected based on their demonstration of entrepreneurship, community involvement and involvement with each school’s chapter of the honor society.

A dean’s list student at Scranton and a member of the Sigma Nu Tau honor society, Spadavecchia serves as president of the entrepreneurship club at Scranton and as president of the University’s business incubator located on campus.

Spadavecchia is also co-owner and creative director of Smooth Rhythm Productions, a digital media production company, and is working on a business plan for an environmentally sustainable paper product. He has volunteered with Nextgen Climate and the Bergan County Technical Center.

Al Brower, an adjunct faculty member in the University’s Marketing, Management and Entrepreneurship Department, has served as Spadavecchia’s mentor.

A resident of Moonachie, New Jersey, Spadavecchia, is a graduate of Bergen County Technical High School, Teterboro, New Jersey.