McKenna Sickels of Gilbert Spending Semester in Italy

2015 Jan 16

McKenna Sickels of Gilbert, Pa. is one of 21 Lebanon Valley College students studying away for the spring 2015 semester. Sickels is spending the semester in Italy as part of the College's study abroad program, which includes 12 foreign countries and two stateside internship opportunities.

The Umbra Institute provides LVC students options in the medieval city of Perugia, Italy. Students can choose from a variety of courses with integrated field trips to famous Italian cities and sites, community engagement opportunities outside of the classroom, and extra-curricular activities. Perugia serves as the ideal backdrop for study abroad in Italy. Rich in art, architecture, and historical significance, it is internationally recognized as a city of learning. The ancient city lies far from the beaten path, surrounded by the rolling hills of Umbria and Tuscany. Travel from Perugia is easy since Rome, Florence, Siena, Assisi, and Cortona lie only a short distance away.

Sickels, a graduate of Pleasant Valley High School, is pursuing a bachelor of arts in English at The Valley.

The College is in the process of developing a handful of new short-term programs that would make it easier for busy students to study off-campus. This spring, two new course-embedded programs were offered in Italy and England. By the time they graduate, nearly 20 percent of LVC students will have spent time studying and traveling abroad, experiences that will shape and inform the rest of their lives as global citizens.