Warner Robins, Ga. – In just one year Central Georgia Technical College’s (CGTC) Office of Global Initiatives (OGI) has pulled together the unthinkable; plan, price and promote a first-of-its-kind dual enrollment study abroad trip for the entire Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG).
Now, as a group of 37 students, chaperones, faculty, and staff from around the state prepare for their trip to County Donegal, Ireland, leadership can see how much commitment was at play to pull it off.
“Dr. Ivan Allen, CGTC’s president, has advocated strongly for this opportunity for our dual-enrolled high school students and we are delighted that our efforts are being realized,” said Rick Hutto, CGTC’s Executive Director for Global Initiatives, who will lead the group. “This is an opportunity that will be life-changing for the great majority of the students who have never traveled abroad.”
Leaving on June 8, 2019, students will spend ten days studying the history, architecture, archeology, and lifestyle of Ireland and will complete additional academic requirements upon their return. Students will spend their mornings in class. In the afternoons, they will visit castles and historic sites, and will participate in a community service project in the oceanfront town of Bundoran, where they will have the opportunity to ride horses and learn to surf.
The State of Georgia covers tuition and fees for all the students and 19 are receiving additional financial support. They will earn three hours of college credit for their academic efforts.
Students participating in the trip are from Houston County High School, Veterans High School, and Warner Robins High School in Houston County, Central High School in Macon, Putnam County High School, Jones County High School, Allatoona High School in suburban Atlanta, and several home-schooled students.
In April, participants and their families hosted the Honorable Shane Stephens, Consul General of Ireland, when he visited CGTC’s Warner Robins campus to thank them for making the commitment to visit and study his country.
Hutto added, “We have already been given a generous donation to enable students from Pulaski County to join us next summer when we look forward to expanding our program.”
For more information on study abroad through the Office of Global Initiatives visit www.centralgatech.edu/global.
Pictured: Ireland Study Abroad Cohort with Consul General