All posts by Ramona Kirsch

CIP Congratulates SPC Globally Engaged Students!

Global Citizen Program, International Students, International Students Events, Success Stories, Travel

The SPC Center for International Programs congratulates all of the following globally engaged students who received awards during the Student Awards Ceremonies on the Tarpon Springs (TS), Clearwater (CL), St Pete/Gibbs (SP/G) and Seminole (SE) campuses. Every student that was recognized has integrated global activities into their SPC experience and has displayed leadership and academic skills that will serve them well in a global workforce.

Global Citizen DistinctionGlobally Engaged

The Global Citizen Program (GCP) at SPC is designed to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of a competent global citizen who is ready to live and work in a diverse world.  Students completing all requirements graduate SPC with Global Citizen distinction.  The GCP entails curricular, extracurricular, and capstone components that students complete alongside their degree program. CIP congratulates the following students for successfully completing the Global Citizen Program and who will graduate SPC with Global Distinction:

  • Kristy Foreman
  • Maria Novoa
  • Margherita Tibaldo
  • Nicholas Sielchan

For more information about the GCP visit: https://blog.spcollege.edu/international/category/global-citizen/

Most Engaged Student Awards

The Center for International Programs (CIP) recognized the following students who have completed volunteer work and engaged in CIP events and activities at St. Petersburg College above and beyond expectations. The recipients of this award are:

       Most Engaged International Students:

Globally Engaged

  • Lorena Hmelas (Croatia) SP
  • Maria Novoa (Colombia) CL
  • Margherita Tibaldo (Italy) TS
  • Fernanda Correa Blanco (Colombia) SE

      Most Engaged Study Abroad Student:

  • Ronelia Bailey (Trinidad & Tobago) CL

Isaac & Lily Varon Scholarship Award

The Issac & Lily Varon Scholarship Award was established in 1991 on the Clearwater campus to recognize outstanding international students from Latin America.  An annual scholarship is awarded to three deserving international students in the amount of $500.00 for each recipient.  The following three students were chosen for this award:

  • Alejandro Mendoza Delgado (Venezuela)
  • Cristian Jacome Mejia (Ecuador)
  • Kin Ng Lugo (Venezuela)Globally Engaged

International Students Graduating in May 2018

The Center for International Programs (CIP) hosts over 200 international students from 50 different countries around the world.  CIP wants to recognize and congratulate the following international students that are graduating this spring 2018:

  • Sophia Brown (Jamaica)
  • Margherita Tibaldo (Italy)
  • Jonas Nettelroth (Germany)
  • Maria Novoa (Colombia)
  • Patel Vivekkumar (India)
  • Roger Osorio (Guatemala)
  • Phong Truong (Vietnam)
  • Natalia Tarakanova (Russia)
  • Huey Yu Netherlands (Antilles)
  • Margaret Moku-Olu (Nigeria)

The Center for International Programs is very grateful and happy to have hosted these talented students who excel in the achievement of their academic goals. We congratulate these students and wish them all the best as they advance toward their future academic endeavors.

For more information about the Center for International Programs please visit: https://blog.spcollege.edu/international/

For International Admissions please visit:  https://www.spcollege.edu/future-students/admissions/international-students/study-in-us

It’s May! Join CIP for Graduation, Awards, And So Much More!

Awards
Travel

You don’t have to get on a plane to experience diverse cultures. They are all around us! Don’t wait and join us in upcoming international opportunities at SPC and awards recognition! The SPC Center for International Programs offers a variety of free events you can attend to enhance your global view.

Here’s the list of upcoming international opportunities in May 2018! 

Event Date Time Campus/Location
Latinos United Club Meeting Weekly, Tues 12:30 pm – 1:40 pm Tarpon Springs Campus EP454
New International Student Orientation (NISO) May 3, 2018 2:15 pm – 3:00 pm EpiCenter Campus 1-310
New International Student Orientation (NISO) May 10, 2018 10:00 am – 12:00 pm Clearwater Campus

ES 203
External International Opportunities include…
African Fashions Pop  Up May 05, 2018 10:00am-6:00pm   The Hall On Franklin
Lea y Mira: Holocaust Survivors film May 10, 2018 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm Florida Holocaust Museum
REMEMBER: SPC Graduation  is May 12, 2018, at 9 am in Tropicana Field

Center for International Programs congratulates

all student award winners and those graduating in May!

·         International Students graduating

James Kristensen-Meroli- Canada Sophia Brown- Jamaica
Margherita Tibaldo-Italy Jonas Nettelroth- Germany
Maria Novoa- Colombia Roger Osorio-Guatemala
Phong Truong- Vietnam Natalia Tarakanova- Russia
Huey Yu- Netherlands Antilles Margaret Moku-Olu- Nigeria

·         Global Citizen Program students graduating with Global Distinction

Kristy Foreman – USA Maria Novoa- Colombia
Nicholas Sielchan – USA Margherita Tibaldo-Italy

·         Issac & Lily Varon Scholarship Award for outstanding Hispanic students

Alejandro Mendoza Delgado- Venezuela Kin Ng Lugo- Venezuela
Cristian Jacome Mejia- Ecuador

·         Most Engaged International Student Award

Maria Novoa – Colombia-CL Campus Margherita Tibaldo –Italy– TS Campus
Lorena Hmelas – Croatia-SP/G Campus Fernanda Correa Blanco –Colombia– SE Campus

·         Most Engaged Study Abroad Student Award

Ronelia Bailey – Trinidad and Tobago
DID YOU KNOW… SPC is #6 in the USA for sending students abroad? Read more here

 Award Award Award

We Want to Hear from You!

If you have already planned an event with global content and want us to help get the word out, click here

Questions? Don’t hesitate to contact us. We are here to help you!

blog.spcollege.edu/international | 727-341-4731 | studyabroad@spcollege.edu

And don’t forget to follow us on social media! We do our best to keep you updated so  you don’t miss our events!

SPC Student Received Scholarship To Study Abroad in Germany!

study abroad scholarship
Austria and Germany (High School), Germany

SPC student, Miriam Saucedo Campos, shares below her excitement for the study abroad scholarship she received to participate in SPC’s Spring Break program to Germany!  Being bilingual, she has written in both English and Spanish!

“ALL student must experience the fantastic and amazing experience of study abroad. SPC has people well prepared and friendly, they are there to keep you well informed about all the fascinating programs. They helped me and I am very thankful for them. study abroad scholarshipI am a very fortunate person for having the incredible opportunity of getting a study abroad scholarship to go to Germany with my Composition class in Spring 2018. I cannot believe I am typing this! Seriously, if these types of opportunities for students didn’t exist I would not be able to travel, enjoy, and explore new places. The process to obtain the scholarship was really simple. I encourage you to try it. If you are not selected at the first try, just keep trying. In my case, I tried about two or three times, but never gave up because I knew I was going to get it sooner or later. So, once again; you must apply! You will not regret it, on the contrary, you are going to get lots of benefits, just like me. Knowing I am going to be in the old continent, that makes my heart jump of happiness, excitement, self-motivation to continue my studies at SPC with enthusiasm. I will be in Germany! We have lots of museums visits programed. I have been reading about Germany and I discovered it is an amazing country. On this trip I will be expose to a new culture. I will get to know a little bit of a completely new world. I will meet German people, I will try German food, their music, and much, much more. I have even learned how to say “I love you” in German, just in case…I will be sharing all this learning with my son, my family, my students and my friends.

TODO estudiante tiene que experimentar la fantástica experiencia de estudiar en el extranjero. SPC cuenta con gente preparada y amistosa para informarte sobre estos programas tan fascinantes. Ellos me ayudaron a mí y estoy muy agradecida. Yo me siento muy afortunada de poder tener esta increíble oportunidad de obtener una beca para ir a Alemania con mi clase de Composición durante la primavera de este año 2018. Realmente sino existieran estas becas, yo no tendría la oportunidad de viajar, conocer y disfrutar de esta experiencia inolvidable. El trámite para obtener la beca fue tan sencillo, que yo te invito a que lo intentes. Sino resultas elegido en el primer intento para obtener una beca, por favor intenta una vez más. En mi caso yo solicite la beca dos o tres veces, pero nunca desistí porque yo sabía que tarde o temprano le iba a obtener. ¡Así que tú debes intentarlo! No te vas a arrepentir, todo lo contrario, vas a obtener mucha ganancia como yo ya la estoy obteniendo. El saber que voy a estar en el continente viejo, eso me llena de gran felicidad, gran emoción y gran motivación para seguir aprendiendo en mi escuela SPC. ¡Conoceré Alemania! En este viaje también conoceré un poco de una nueva cultura para mí. Conoceré la gente alemana, así como también su comida típica, su música, la moneda que usan, y mucho, mucho más. Todo este aprendizaje que espero poder compartir con mi hijo, mi familia, mis estudiantes y mis amigos. He estado leyendo sobre Alemania y descubro que es un país fascinante. Ya hasta he aprendido a decir “Te amo” en alemán.  Ya tenemos programados visitas a los museos. Los museos es algo que me interesa mucho conocer en diferentes países. No puedo esperar más para que la fecha llegue.”

-SPC study abroad student, Miriam Saucedo Campos

Click here to learn more about SPC study abroad programs and study abroad scholarship.

Questions? Don’t hesitate to contact us. 

blog.spcollege.edu/international | 727-341-4731 | studyabroad@spcollege.edu

SPC Students Studies Abroad in Spain: Expectations And Fears!

Spain
Scholarships, Spain 2019

I feel the Spain study abroad program will benefit me academically by being immersed in the Spanish culture.  I believe it will provide a richer experience than a typical classroom setting because I will be able to explore, absorb and appreciate a language and culture that is new to me.  Being able to eat the food, listen to the music, see the architecture and museums enhances the learning experience exponentially. The most important of these experiences is connecting with the Spanish people.  Having the opportunity to learn other cultures habits, ways and traditions can only serve to expand my way of thinking, therefore enriching me.  That is true education. I think this form of learning can only come from traveling and experiencing other nationalities.

To me, this opportunity is very personal.  I was born in Spain, but I haven’t had the opportunity to return until now. I would like to see where I come from. When I am finished with this trip to Spain, I hope to be a changed person.  A more well-rounded, empathetic, and diverse person.  I think that meeting and spending time with people from other cultures is vital to becoming that person.  This experience will put me one step closer to finding my path in life as well as in my career.

I want to become a better student and human being, I need to get uncomfortable.  Along with learning a new language, my goal is to step out of my comfort zone by actively engaging in conversations and activities with the local community.  My goal is to put aside my awkwardness or embarrassment and really experience Spain in a way that can’t be had from only being in a classroom.  I look forward to sharing my experience with friends and family and hope it will encourage them to expand their horizons.  I hope that my experience will encourage other students to get out of their comfort zone and apply for the study abroad program.

– SPC study abroad student, Samantha Cameron

Questions? Don’t hesitate to contact us. 

blog.spcollege.edu/international | 727-341-4731 | studyabroad@spcollege.edu

 

Tarpon Springs Welcomes Greek Ambassador Haris Lalacos!

Greek Ambassador Haris Lalacos
Greece

On Monday, January 29, 2018, the City of Tarpon Springs, under the leadership of its first Greek-born Mayor, Chris Alahouzos, welcomed the Greek Ambassador Haris Lalacos, by hosting an Open Forum Panel Discussion at the City Hall.

In addition to Ambassador Lalacos, panelists were US Congressman Gus Bilirakis, Tampa Bay Greek Consul General Dimitrios Sparos, and Mayor Alahouzos. Saint Petersburg College (SPC) was represented by President Tonjua Williams, Tarpon Springs campus Provost Rod Davis, the Center for International Programs Director Ramona Kirsch, and the Leepa-Ratner Museum Director, Ann Larsen.

The panel discussion focused on furthering relationships with Greece in the areas of education, business, culture and the arts.  After the panel discussion, Senator Leonidas Raptakis (Rhode Island), Dr. Tina Bucuvalas Curator of Arts for Tarpon Springs, and SPC President Tonjua Williams made remarks.

President Williams spoke of the strong ties that St. Petersburg College has with Greece.  SPC runs a study abroad program to Greece every other year.  This program will run in May 2018 and be led by SPC Balis Professor of Greek Culture, Kimberly Felos.  During the 11-day journey to Greece students will not only visit the historical sites in and around Athens, but they will also spend time on Kalymnos, one of the islands of the Dodecanese in the southeastern Aegean Sea.  SPC has had an international partnership with Kalymnos for years.  To find out more about the study abroad program, click here.

In addition to the study abroad program to Greece, SPC also hosts the annual conference of the American Foundation for Greek Language and Culture (AFGLC).  This year’s conference theme is “All That’s Greek on Stage and Screen” and will be held on Saturday, April 1, 2018 from 8:30 am – 12 noon on the Tarpon Springs Campus.  To find out more about AFGLC, click here.

President Williams concluded by saying SPC is ready to take the partnership with Greece to the next level and stated that SPC will work with the Greek Ambassador Haris Lalacos and others to ensure deeper collaborations in the future.

Questions? Don’t hesitate to contact us. 

blog.spcollege.edu/international | 727-341-4731 | InternationalPrg@spcollege.edu