Students Explore Media, History and Culture During Trip to London, Bruges and Amsterdam Friday, July 1, 2016
Students and faculty at Battenhall, a communications agency in London. More trip photos in the album below.
For 12 students in Point Park University's spring semester International Media class, summer vacation began with a trip abroad to learn firsthand about the media, history and culture in London, Bruges and Amsterdam, May 8-20. Professors Helen Fallon and Bob O'Gara, retired faculty member Jan Getz, and M.A./M.B.A. alumna Emily Kolek accompanied the group.
"This class and trip was an experience of a lifetime. You get to affordably visit multiple countries with your friends, see how other people live, work and play, and get academic credit for it," said Lauren Joseph, a senior public relations and advertising major with a minor in multimedia.
For Jessica Federkeil, a senior journalism major, this was her first time traveling by plane.
"Traveling abroad was an amazing experience. It's so important to go out and see different cultures and learn new ideas, especially as a college student," said Federkeil. "I wouldn't have been able to take this trip if it wasn't for this class and financial assistance from the John Fallon Travel Scholarship."
Highlights of the trip included:
London
- Media visits: Battenhall (communications agency) and BMB (advertising agency)
- History/culture: Piccadilly Circus, Parliament and Big Ben, St. Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park and changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace
- Food: Traditional English fish 'n chips dinner
Bruges
- History/culture: Historic Center of Bruges, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Markt Square, Basilica of the Holy Blood, Church of Our Lady and Kantcentrum, a lace museum
- Food: Belgian chocolate samples at Choco-Story, the chocolate museum
Amsterdam
- Media visits: Vrije Universite Amsterdam (discussion about the current landscape of the Netherlands media), Het Parool (newspaper), de Volkskrant (newspaper), Ketchum Amsterdam (communications agency) and World Press Photo Foundation
- History/culture: The Anne Frank House, Windmills of Zaanse Schan, a traditional Dutch clog-maker's workshop, Keukenhof Gardens and Rijskmuseum
- Food: Cheese at a Dutch cheese factory and a gourmet meal during a dinner cruise on the Holland International Cruise
"I basically met the person I want to be when I grow up, and I have his email address," said Jane McAnallen, a senior PR and advertising major. "If you are in a communications field, go on this trip. You will be able to visit agencies and network with people you would have never met otherwise."
Added Madison Krupp, a recent journalism alumna, "This trip was life-changing, organized and memorable. I will never forget this experience and the people I traveled with."
Learn more about the students' experiences by visiting the student-created website.
Trip Photos
Photos by Hannah Altman, Mackenzie Russ, Emily Kolek and Jan Getz