Letters from Greece: Franke Honors Study Abroad

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The W.A. Franke Honors College provides exceptional study abroad and study away opportunities, designed to expand on the five Franke Honors Values. These experiences encourage students to earn Honors credits while exploring new destinations and stepping outside their comfort zones. This past summer, students journeyed to Greece as part of the Honors Summer Study Abroad Experience, visiting vibrant cities and stunning islands from Athens to Crete and Naxos. Leading the adventure was Franke Honors Associate Professor of Practice Claire McLane, who teaches poetry and creative writing in the Franke Honors College.

In summer 2025, students will once again have the chance to participate in a study abroad trip to Greece. This opportunity is open to all Franke Honors students eager to broaden their horizons and deepen their global engagement.

Here’s what Franke Honors students had to say about their experience abroad in Greece: 

“Greece was incredible. Learning from both the country’s famous ancients and its rich present was truly eye-opening. The famous sites I’d read so much about met my expectations and more, especially the Parthenon’s beautiful museum. Still, the most enlightening things were learning about their more recent history - the food and the music and the oil developed in the past few decades. There is a tension that exists within Greece, connected directly to us in the western world. The guides and authors and artists we met on this trip delved into the complex relationship between Greece and tourism, the modern and the ancient, preservation and accommodation. This trip explored what it really means to be a global citizen.”  

- North Zhang, Engineering 

“I just returned from my Summer 2024 study abroad program in Greece, and I had the time of my life. Having the opportunity to learn more about literature and mythology granted me a new perspective on the humanities as a STEM major. I loved being able to immerse myself in a different culture and embrace unique experiences. Overall, my trip to Greece has provided me with lessons and morals that I will never forget.”  

- Emma Purvis, Biochemistry & Pharmaceutical Sciences 

“From visiting historic sites and museums, creating pottery, learning new instruments, and writing while overlooking the olive groves–I loved being able to connect ancient myths to physical locations and ruins while also interacting with locals, and gaining their perspective on their ancient heritage. If you have the opportunity to attend any study abroad program, absolutely go. I made the best memories and made a bunch of new friends through this trip that will leave a lasting impact on my college experience.”  

- Samantha Morgan, Creative Writing & Creative Intelligence and Innovation 

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“My experience in Greece was life changing, and even that feels like an understatement. Studying abroad in this manner offered me unique opportunities to grow as a person and as a student, and my writing improved in a way only possible through an immersive experience such as this one. The highlight of the trip for me was Delos by a long shot. I think it is something everyone has to see in their lifetime. Many people might be inclined to say it’s just a landscape of collapsed walls, but this island of ruins was so much more than that. The feeling of exploring everyday life at one’s own pace and taking in the value of different pieces of the ruins not just to them but to you is invaluable. It really encapsulates what time means to people, and how the past and present interact and shape each other. The act of choosing this trip and preparing for it was terrifying. While I didn’t seriously consider it, the thought of dropping out and staying home crossed my mind many times. But this fear just added to the experience as I realized that it didn’t matter. I was strong enough to do everything, and the awe of it all washed away every doubt I ever had. It was scary to travel abroad for the first time, to be on a trip for more than five days, and to do it with a group of strangers. But this opportunity is so unique that I would not have missed it for anything. By the end, it seemed silly that I was ever focused on personal fears instead of the scope of sites and activities I had in store for me.” 

- Megan Bukovinsky, Film & Television and Psychology