Pioneers on the Road: Students Explore the Capital During Annual Washington, D.C. Trip Wednesday, February 26, 2025
Each February, Point Park University offers students a chance to visit Washington, D.C. for a day for a mere $10 bus ticket. This year 47 students boarded the chartered bus at 6 a.m. and returned at 11 p.m., having filled the day with activities of their choice.
In honor of Black History Month, students were offered timed tickets to the National Museum of African American History and Culture as well as the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. The trip is organized by multiple groups, including the Student Government Association, the Black Student Union, Shalom and the Asian American Pacific Islander Union.
The drizzly winter weather didn't dampen the students' enthusiasm for a day in the nation's capital.
Here’s what a few students had to say about their experiences:
”It was a spur-of-the-moment trip that I’m so glad I agreed to go on. The experience was amazing and educational, and I’m glad I got to spend it with others. This was a fun trip to end my final year with.” – Italia Gionti, Screenwriting major
“I’ve never been to D.C. before because the cost was always too much during high school to go. It was so nice it was only $10 and we got to be on a tour bus with a bathroom. I had such a good time seeing all the museums and seeing so many different cultures and stories being told. It was so educational, and I connected to so many things happening now to things in the past and how history unfortunately repeats itself. Being immersed in the different art styles as well as the historic museums was so uplifting to see people being able to express themselves from the past to the present." – Leah Davis, Marketing and Sales major
“In D.C., there are so many wonderful cultural, art and science museums to explore. So many of them are within a 10-minute walking distance radius from each other, making it possible to see multiple in one day. Seeing all the government buildings in person is also truly a one-of-a-kind experience. As someone who has never been to D.C. before I went with Point Park last year, getting to see the place included in textbooks, film and whatnot was truly wonderful!” – Drew Dela Llana, president of the Asian American Pacific Islander Union and Musical Theatre major
“I felt like a kid in a candy shop! As someone who has always been fascinated with U.S. presidents and American politics, being in D.C. was an amazing experience. I toured the entire city alone, visiting every major monument and even going to Capital One Arena where they let me take pictures inside!” – Austin Cairns, Sports Communication major
“I love to travel, and I love D.C., so when I heard the school was doing the trip I thought, 'I can't miss out.' I liked the U.S. Botanical Garden because I love nature and flowers." – Savannah Lee, Sports, Arts, Entertainment and Music Business major
"Going to D.C. with some of my closest friends at school was an absolute blast. Even though it was raining, I got to make some memories that will last a lifetime. My favorite part was probably going to see the Lincoln Memorial! I also really enjoyed learning a lot more about the Holocaust at the Holocaust Museum than I ever could in a classroom." – Thea Smith, Animation major