For additional information about any of the news stories listed below, please contact Rodger Boyce in the NCTC Office of Marketing & Public Relations, 1525 W. California St., Gainesville, TX 76240, telephone 940-668-4255. All material Copyright 2003, North Central Texas Community College District.

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”I MIGLIORI ANNI" FOR NCTC STUDENTS STUDYING IN ITALY
NOTE photo at conclusion of article.

GAINESVILLE, TEXAS – The year 2009 will definitely be “i migliori anni” for a group of North Central Texas College students recently returned from a summer of study abroad in Italy.

It was the second straight year that NCTC professors Pat Ledbetter and Jane England have headed up the college’s Study Abroad program which allows students to earn up to six hours of transferable credit while traveling and studying in Italy.

“And again this summer, it was a resounding and unqualified success—i migliori anni, the best year yet,” Dr. Ledbetter said. “For students and instructors alike, it was truly an unforgettable experience.”

Dr. Ledbetter explained that students participating in Study Abroad chose to take one or two of three classes offered—World Literature, which she taught, or World History and Art Appreciation, both taught by England.

Students attended classes at the NCTC Corinth Campus for the first three weeks of the semester and then spent the next nine days traveling to Verona, Venice, Assisi, Florence and Rome, Italy. Once back in Texas, students completed their course work and turned in research/writing assignments that incorporated personal experiences, information and photos from the tour.

In addition to the site visits arranged by EF Tours, the company handling all travel arrangements and accommodations, professors Ledbetter and England guided the participants through the Uffizi Gallery in Florence and the Capitoline Museum in Rome.

Extras also included a gondola ride in Venice; a trip by water taxi to the island of Murano, famous for producing hand-blown glass for over 1000 years; a visit to the Medieval town of San Gimignano to sample the gelato (Italian ice-cream) in a shop deemed by top travel authorities for several years as the best in the world; and an evening bus tour of Rome to see the Coliseum, St. Peter’s Basilica and other sites.

“International study is an effective and exciting way for students to fulfill their degree requirements while gaining insight into the dynamics of other societies,” England said.

“The 10 days I spent exploring Venice, Florence and Rome gave me so much more than surface knowledge and a fun time,” commented one of the student travelers. “While I was there I learned Greek and Roman history and how it has shaped our world today. I experienced a new culture that consists of very friendly, stylish people.

”I made lasting friendships with an amazing group of people. But most of all, I was given an opportunity to see a part of the world that was foreign to me. The trip has opened me up to trying new food and visiting new places and motivated my desire to go back as soon as I get another opportunity.”

Participants in the 2009 Italy learning trip were: Michael Adams of Little Elm, Breanne Gonzales of Lewisville, Kelley and Brandon Gorman of Denton, Charlene McGinnis of Denton, Philip Pierce of Aubrey, Chelsea Reedy of Denton, Maurice Robeson of Alvord, Amber Todd of Tuttle, OK and Anne Walterscheid of Muenster.

It’s a learning opportunity and experience that others will be able to take advantage of next summer too.

Due to the success of the 2008 and 2009 sessions, Dr. Ledbetter announced, NCTC is already developing course offerings and travel opportunities for the 2010 Study Abroad in Italy program.
For more information, contact Jane England at 940-498-6244 on the Corinth Campus or Pat Ledbetter at 940-668-4325 on the Gainesville Campus.
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PHOTO CAPTION:
PICTURE POSTCARD MOMENT—Posing in front of the Roman Coliseum are this summer’s participants in the 2009 Study Abroad in Italy program sponsored by North Central Texas College. Pictured left to right are: Chelsea Reedy of Denton, Michael Adams of Littled Elm, Maurice Robeson of Alvord, Amber Todd of Tuttle, OK, Kelley Gorman of Denton, Breanne Gonzales of Lewisville, Professor Jane England, Anne Walterscheid of Muenster, Charlene McGinnis of Denton, Phillip Pierce of Aubrey, Professor Pat Ledbetter and Brandon Gorman of Denton.
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