DESTINATION UK: STUDY ON-LOCATION WITH THE HONORS COLLEGE

By Henrique da Silva

On May 3, 2023, Honors College students at Washington Adventist University embarked on a 14-day trip to the United Kingdom. Since 2016, the Honors College has collaborated with Newbold College of Higher Education to provide WAU Honors students the opportunity to study on-location in the UK each year. This was the first group from the Honors College to travel to England since the study abroad program was put on hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Spring of 2020 and relaunched in the Spring of 2023.

During the spring semester, students attend online courses with subject matters spanning history, literature and religion. After the semester’s end, they travel to the UK to finish their classes at Newbold College and have the chance to visit historical sites mentioned in their research and explore the city of London. This year, they attended “Reformation to Revolution,” studying the English Reformation, and “Matrons, Magic and Holy Women,” about the influence of women during the English Reformation and the influence of Shakespeare in England.

Besides being on Newbold’s campus, the students used their extra time to explore and experience England as much as possible. Arriving the week of the historical event in Westminster Abbey, they had a chance to see the coronation of King Charles III, the first coronation since Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. Later, they went to watch A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Globe Theater and visited famous locations like Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Hampton Court, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Norwich, Bath, Tower of London and more places around Newbold College, such as Bracknell and Reading.

Alex Engelkemier, an alumna of Washington Adventist University and the Honors College, went along with the group and was fundamental to its relaunch this year. She had attended previous trips to Newbold College as a student and was a coordinator for the group that went in the Spring of 2019. “I don’t think there’s an experience like this anywhere else. You’re traveling with 11 students who have a similar academic drive and curiosity about the world to a beautiful campus to learn about topics you would probably otherwise have no knowledge about. And these memories will provide greater context, greater breadth, and depth, to how you see the world.”

I’m thankful I chose WAU and the Honors College as a place to start my academic journey, and I will always remember this trip and how it has helped me to understand not only history and literature but also how to use it to make an impact in society. I would definitely go one more time if I had another opportunity and advise others to do so if they ever get the chance.

Henrique da Silva served as Student President of the Honors College in 2022-2023, and will serve as the WAU Student Association President during 2023-2024.