Westminster Honors Program in Athens: May 2020

“I never left a site without learning something new…. the pride and hospitality embodied by the Greeks shaped my view of Greece and enabled me to have an experience that I am so grateful for, as it exposed me to such a beautiful culture, way of life, and group of people.”

Sam Accordino, Sophomore Neuroscience Major

“I learned more about Greek history than I ever thought I could, which surprised me more than any speeding Athenian car. I learned about their past, their legacy of oppression, in which they had had no identity under so many uncaring empires (and we Americans say we had it bad!). I learned about how they had fought for their rights, about how they identified so strongly with the need for a proper democracy. I appreciated their spirit, their hope, their courage. I walked down the streets that so many modern Greeks have walked down. I have learned as much about their lives as the lives of ancient ghosts in ancient crypts and tombs. The Greece of ancient times is dead, but the Greece of our modern era is very much alive.”

Anna Grimenstein, Sophomore Biology Major

“I spent every night in Athens gazing at the remarkable view either from the top of our hotel or from the peak of the Areopagus rock just outside of the Acropolis. It was shocking how tranquil and quiet the city was at night; time felt like it was standing still while staring at the vast city landscape.”

Braden Stesiak, Sophomore Computer Science & Music Double Major

“This trip took me out of my comfort zone, and brought me to a new version of myself. Less fearful, and more willing to live…. Because of this trip, I cannot wait to see what’s next.”

Sara Small, Sophomore Interdisciplinary Major in Environmental Science & Project Management

“People who I have not really spoken to outside of class, or even in class for that matter, were now interacting with me on a different level and it was quite the experience. I uploaded 3,464 images of this trip to the cloud, and while I’m sure I will look upon those fondly again in a few years, the day [the students] got together and brought me [birthday] ice cream and a card will always be my favorite memory from this trip…. The itinerary for this trip was quite extensive, but the experience would not have been the same without the people in this group.”

Tim Hering, Junior English and Music Double Major

“Greece is an ideal study abroad site for our students, many of whom have never traveled outside of the U.S. The firsthand experience of its rich culture, vast history, and genuinely welcoming citizens deepens our on-campus learning considerably, inspiring our curiosities. It is not uncommon for students to come home from Greece asking, 'Where can I go next?'"

Kristianne Kalata, Associate Professor of English and Honors Program Director

"It's one thing to read Homer or Plato--something we should all do. But it's quite another to visit the sites that appear in their works, the Illiad and Odyssey, and the Republic. Nothing makes a lesson better learned or a memory more lasting than being on location. At Westminster, our Honors students get the best of both worlds and come out of the program not only well trained for whatever they choose to do next, but genuinely changed by the experience."

Russell Martin, Professor of History and Honors Program Faculty