Two students return from separate study abroad trips in France
Student News | Monday, July 31, 2023
Above, Columbus State student Brittany Blevins, standing at the very back of the table on the right, gathers with other international students and faculty at a dinner in La Pecherie, France, on July 7 as part of a study abroad program.
Two Columbus State students spent a portion of their summers focusing on sustainability as part of a Community College in France program. Tessa Hammond was with an international group examining sustainable city campuses in June. Last month, Brittany Blevins researched sustainable management of marine ecosystems. The programs are organized and hosted by French higher education institutions, with the support of the FACE Foundation, the Embassy of France in the U.S., and the L’Oréal Fund for Women.
"It was so interesting learning the sustainability techniques that are being utilized
in France and comparing those techniques to what we have here in America,” said Hammond.
“Now that I’m back home and reflecting on my visit to France, I find it hard to put
into words how truly blessed I feel to have been able to participate in this program.
I had the pleasure of spending two weeks with some of the most curious, open-minded,
thoughtful, and kind people I have ever met. Every place we visited made me feel like
I was living in a dream. Not only did I learn so much while being there, but I gained
memories and experiences that I will cherish for a lifetime.
Blevins said the program was life-changing. “On our first morning, we met on campus
to discuss climate change and work on a group activity consisting of flashcards with
an image and explanation of human activities and environmental changes that we arranged
in a cause-and-effect map. This gave us a visual representation of how human activities
drastically affect our world and negatively affect humans,” said Blevins. “Following
a lecture on day two, we were given guidelines for a video project that we would later
present on any topic related to marine environments, climate change, or sustainability.”
“While working on our projects for the two weeks, we stayed busy visiting other cities in France with water sampling, scuba diving, litter pickups, sightseeing, tours, museums, and more! The time went by too fast, but the memories made, things learned, and friends made will last for many more years to come."
The Columbus State students were able to participate due to the support of the Sustainability Student Group, the Columbus State Foundation, the Columbus City Council, and numerous areas throughout Columbus State from academics, advancement, study abroad, and student engagement.
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