Discover what makes India a cultural and religious force. Get your feet wet by visiting the stunning Jama Masjid Mosque, the TajMahal, the Bahá’í Lotus temple, and the Raj Ghat, memorial to Mahatma Gandhi. Experience the awesome ingenuity of generations past, the city bazaars full of colorful cultural displays, and enticing smells that have been a staple in the central economic Indian marketplaces since ancient times. See your textbook come to life as you study religions as they are lived in India, the birthplace of Buddha, and a house of worship for the great religions of the world.
Are you interested in this program? Call (727) 712-5883 to find out if spots are still available. For general information about the program visit our website.
SPC Attends St. Petersburg Conference on World Affairs
Long time ago, great explorers set on expeditions to travel the land and sea. It took many years for humanity to correct the belief that the Earth is not flat, but a huge globe. In fact, the Earth is made up of diverse land forms and broad depths of sea. It is also is a home for different wildlife, vegetation, and of course, a wide range of cultures and races. Nonetheless, people tend to neglect these kinds of things, as they just see what is just within their parameters instead of looking at the big picture.
SPC students raised their awareness as they attended the St Petersburg Conference on World Affairs at USF St. Petersburg that was in session from February 17-19. The World Affairs Conference discussed topics that promote people’s welfare and uphold their rights – hot topics such as employment in the U.S., women’s rights, immigration, as well as current circumstances in the Middle East, Africa, Europe and South America.
SPC students from Clearwater campus participated in an International Career Session where they learned about joining the Peace Corps, working as a diplomat, or working in the intelligence services. CIA veteran Eugene Poteat talked about his service in the intelligence field. One of the biggest things he mentioned is how different media have portrayed the CIA and other intelligence committees.
What students thought about the St. Petersburg Conference on World Affairs:
“It was deeply fascinating. I always thought of organizations like the CIA and FBI as almost mythical things, but hearing Mr. Poteat speak showed me that a career in intelligence is a very real and interesting career path. “ – Jeffrey Lozada.
“It was an eye opening and informative. It was a great honor meeting Eugene Poteat, a renowned senior CIA executive. The conference did not just provide different resource materials, but the audience got intake from the speaker himself. “– Judy Bun.
The conference showed students what it is like to be in other people’s shoes. It gave students the knowledge that there are things happening outside their campuses. The conference promotes awareness. It taught students that no matter how massive the world is in size, with all these cultures and heritages, it is not a small world after all.
Smooth to the Palette:Having a Taste of Culture, Poetry, Music and Soul
Jesse Owens, Percy Julian, Nina Simone, and Martin Luther King Jr. are some of the many famous African American names that have been a huge part of history. These names have inspired, created, and renewed dreams in every individual who come upon their stories. One of the greatest things about these individuals above is how they used their talents, skills and intelligence all in the name of their African American descent. And to remember their work and culture, SPC on all campuses celebrated the African American Heritage Month.
The celebrations took place on February 4 with a soulful quad event. The event was hosted by the Student Government who worked hand in hand with BADEYA. Organizations and clubs came out to participate in the party. The event was filled with line dances and music that would surely take you back in time. The DJ tested students’ knowledge as he asked trivia questions about African American heritage. Along with that, the quad event was tied with sweet southern barbecue cooking that tickled everyone’s taste buds.
On February 11, the celebration continued as the Student Support Services organized their annual Poetry Slam. Students and faculty members unleashed their inner Maya Angelou as they recited poetry that promoted African American culture. Ms. Angela Cole, The International Student Representative, recited Maya Angelou’s poem “Alone,” dedicating it to all her students. Along with that, Students from ESL classes were able to showcase famous poetry as well. The Real Clash, Tampa Bay’s newest Hip-hop Fusion band, came and provided the music for the evening.
On February 24, students at the Tarpon Spring campus had the opportunity to learn about 150 Years of Sociopolitical Impact as part of the “Battle of the Clubs” through creative displays. In addition, soulful tastes of African American food were served.
Stetson University Holds the 2016 International Legal Education Abroad Conference (ILEAC)
The two-day International Legal Education Abroad Conference (ILEAC) hosted by Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Florida will discuss common challenges in international legal education and develop best practices in the field. ILEAC brings together educators from U.S. law schools to discuss how to embrace the changing legal education landscape and provide useful global legal experiences for law students. This year’s theme is Innovative International Partnerships.
This conference welcomes participants from across the United States as well as from overseas!
Conference Details:
Dates: Monday, April 04, 2016, 8:00 a.m. – Tuesday, April 5, 2016 2:00 p.m.
Location: Stetson University College of Law 1401 61st St S, Gulfport, FL 33707
Application for the Volunteer Forever’s $500 Travel Scholarship for Spring 2016 to volunteer or intern abroad with an organization of your choice opened February 15th. Click here to learn more and to apply!
Students don’t have to currently be fundraising for a volunteer trip or international internship, special considerations will be given to those who have active campaigns – and winner’s funds will be distributed through your campaign page. If you still need to set up a campaign, click here to get started.
Applications are open now through March 31, and winners will be announced in mid-April.
On February 10, SPC hosted Mr. DK Wu, Fulbright research fellow from Taiwan, which included meetings with President Law, SP/G Provost Jamelle Conner, and Director of International Programs, Ramona Kirsch. Mr. Wu of the Chinese Association of American Community Colleges (CAACC), is conducting research about international education and community colleges throughout the United States. Mr. Wu also presented information on his research and the Taiwan educational system to students, faculty and staff during a special luncheon.
SPC thanks Mr. Wu for his visit, looks forward to seeing the results of his research, and pursuing areas for collaboration.
Jointly presented by CETL and the Center for International Programs, the Fulbright Workshop will provide the opportunity for current and perspective Fulbright fellows to connect, explore, and engage. Join us!
My name is Roberta Spathari. I was born and raised in Tirana, the capital of Albania. Albania is a small country in South-Eastern Europe, surrounded by Italy, Greece, Macedonia, Kosovo and Montenegro. Located on the Eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea, Albania is known for its Mediterranean weather, natural beauty, and amazing beaches across the Adriatic and Ionian coastline. Albania is also known for having a rich history that dates back to thousands of years ago, therefore the country is full of ancient ruins, some of them are protected by UNESCO, as well as a variety of ancient castles and other archaeological wonders.
I have always loved traveling, learning foreign languages, and being able to experience different cultures. Growing up I had the opportunity to visit a lot of European countries like France, Germany, Italy, Greece, Belgium, United Kingdom, Turkey, Kosovo, Montenegro, Macedonia and Croatia. Visiting all these amazing countries helped me get out of my comfort zone as well as become more open minded when it comes to experiencing new things. In addition to the obvious reasons such as a better education and better job opportunities, I decided to come to the United States for college because I have always been fascinated by the culture, and I wanted to experience it first-hand.
I started learning English in first grade, and I also grew up watching Disney shows, Hollywood movies and listened to U.S. /U.K. music artists. Therefore, by the time I moved here for college I was already fluent in English. Change is always a bit hard, and I do get homesick sometimes, but coming to the United States for college has been one of the best decisions of my life. It was a really smooth transition, because everyone here is really friendly and willing to help out.
Roberta and her relatives at the Albanian Riviera.
I decided to come to St. Petersburg College because I have family here in Clearwater, and my cousins who attend SPC suggested I apply here. I am really happy I chose SPC to pursue my AA degree. This is my last semester here before I transfer to a university for Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, and I am grateful for all the opportunities and wonderful memories at St. Petersburg College. I love taking classes at SPC because they are smaller-sized, so I have had the opportunity to connect with all my professors, who have also been amazing mentors. The past two years at SPC I have also been involved with different clubs such as The International Club, Phi Theta Kappa, MRSA as well as
Student Government Association. Being more involved on campus gave me the opportunity to create a lot of friendships, as well as connect with the advisors who have since been supportive towards my academic success. After joining the Honors Program here at SPC, a few months ago, I was also given the opportunity to work as a student assistant. Being an honors student at SPC as well as working at the Honors Program, has been an amazing experience. I am really glad I chose to enroll as a student at St. Petersburg College. In 5 years I hope to be working as a chemical engineer in the pharmaceutical industry.
