Passport to Possibility
From Scotland to Rwanda, Rollins students spent summer 2025 gaining global perspectives and essential experience through immersive field studies and study abroad programs.
October 13, 2025
At the heart of Rollins is our mission to cultivate globally engaged leaders and problem solvers, and this past summer, Tars once again made their mark by learning and contributing across the globe. From experiencing the world’s largest arts festival at the Edinburgh Fringe in Scotland to co-teaching in Rwandan schools while piloting a new water-filtration system, our students gained valuable hands-on experience while putting their Rollins education to work across the world.
Our commitment to a rich, diverse collection of international education programs and field study opportunities is a big reason why Rollins is consistently ranked as one of the best colleges for study abroad. Additionally, research from the American Association of Colleges & Universities shows that executives and hiring managers are more likely to hire candidates with experience in a field-based project in a community with people from diverse backgrounds, so these hands-on opportunities not only enrich the Rollins experience but are also essential preparation for the workforce.
As last spring turned to summer, we asked students to keep us in the loop as they readied their passports and set out into the world. Here are a few of our favorite field study and study abroad stories from summer 2025.
Communication studies major Riley Parinello ’26 and her classmates experienced the world’s largest arts festival, the Edinburgh Fringe, while on a summer field study in Scotland. With over 2,500 international performances from 60 nations, students experienced everything from experimental works to cultural classics. The experience also included exploring Edinburgh’s history, discovering its deep ties to global theater, and visiting the Scottish Highlands.
“At the Fringe Festival, we saw so many artists pushing traditional boundaries,” shares Parinello. “As I prepare to start the new school year, I am inspired to try new things in the classroom and on the stage. We saw art take shape in forms that I’ve never seen before; I found myself attending performances where lighting effects made actors appear in slow motion and another with Cirque De Soleil-like acrobatics.”
The life-affirming experience immersed the cohort of Tars in the rich history of Scotland as they explored iconic sites such as the Highlands, Greyfriars Bobby, and Mary King’s Close.
“In being exposed to so much history and culture I feel as though I’m a more well-rounded person,” she says. “Breaking out of the college bubble gave me the opportunity to step back and look at what I have while also seeing how much there is to learn and explore.”
Lexie Cooper ’26, a biochemistry/molecular biology major and Spanish minor, says her Verano Español experience changed her perspective and opened her eyes to lives vastly different from her own.
Now in its 65th year, Verano Español is one of the oldest American study abroad experiences in Spain, where students spend six weeks immersed in Spanish language and culture through coursework, excursions, and guided activities led by Spanish professor and native Spaniard Alberto Prieto-Calixto.
“I feel like I grew as an individual on this trip,” shares Cooper, “because I said ‘yes’ to optional trips outside of class, like visiting museums, bike riding along the river, and trying new foods. Because of the diversity at Rollins, I also felt more prepared to adapt to new cultures and was excited to learn about the world.”
The interactive coursework gave the 28 students in the program ample opportunities to speak, listen, and write in Spanish, especially while living alongside locals in the heart of Madrid.
“Growing up in Michigan, I only traveled to one museum, and it was for a school trip when I was young,” says Cooper. “I never realized there was so much artistry and culture in Madrid. I learned so much about Spanish history and culture just through paintings. Throughout my time at Rollins I’ve realized that you can learn so much more if you participate, interact, and try your hardest. I’m hoping with my improved Spanish skills I can possibly aid Spanish-speaking patients in my future career in the medical field.”
Earlier this summer, students in education professor Angela Griner’s field-study course spent two weeks in Rwanda working alongside local families, teachers, and villagers on community projects like gardening, health and nutrition, and co-teaching in schools.
For biology major Hamza Zeini ’25, the experience offered another unique opportunity: piloting a new water filtration system similar to one he helped install on chemistry professor Pedro Bernal’s field study in the Dominican Republic, which he joined three times. He even dedicated his senior honors thesis to evaluating the filter before implementing it in Rwanda.
“Dr. Bernal’s design focused on chlorination and sediment filtration, while the one for Rwanda was based on ceramic filtration,” says Zeini. “This year, Dr. Griner secured funding to implement the filters for the first time in Rwanda. Dr. Bernal was supposed to lead the pilot but couldn’t due to his long-running field study happening at the same time. Because I had repeat experience through his field study, along with doing research on these ceramic filters, I was fortunate enough to be brought in as the substitute.”
Zeini and the team installed six filters across classrooms and a community center. “Seeing them implemented gave my academic work true relevance and impact,” he says, explaining how in the village, he saw families rise before sunrise to carry water from the only clean source at the bottom of a mountain. “The ‘filter users’ I read about became real people I lived among and learned from.”
While there, Zeini also co-taught lessons in leadership and English. “My biggest takeaways were that all that it takes to connect with someone is a smile, and access to education is the key to a comfortable life for many,” he says. “Also, following our visit to the Rwandan Genocide Memorial, I was struck by how a nation that endured such deep trauma can still work toward healing and reconciliation with collective effort.”
Business management major Stephen Cherepanya ’26 participated in a field study in Colombia, exploring its history while gaining insight into its evolving economy and growing technology.
“Through this field study, I gained hands-on experience that enhanced what I’m learning in the classroom,” shares Cherepanya. “I saw the distinct ways Colombia approaches innovation and sustainability within a different government structure. It pushed me to think critically about how I can apply some of their forward-thinking practices in my own life back in the U.S., especially when it comes to environmental responsibility and creative problem-solving.”
Visiting Colombia helped Cherepanya realize the value of global awareness and adaptability—skills that are increasingly important in any professional setting. Being exposed to different ways of thinking and operating helped drive home the importance of staying open-minded and innovative in his future career.
Charlie Curci ’27, an international relations and political science double major, had the opportunity to explore Vietnam’s history and culture while also enjoying the amazing food, art, and city life in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Led by history professor Claire Strom, the field study focused on the American involvement in Vietnam and how that has shaped the country’s culture and economy. Throughout, students were encouraged to think in a historical context about how the Vietnamese perceive Americans and Western ideals, reconciling Vietnamese cultural beliefs with their own.
“This opportunity helped enhance what I learned throughout Dr. Strom’s class about the aspects of war in Vietnam because it really helped bring reading materials and lectures to life,” says Curci. “As an international relations major who hopes to work in international politics in the future, getting to experience a culture different from my own was truly life-changing and has deepened my perspective on how those from different backgrounds live their lives.”
Alongside art history and archaeology professor Robert Vander Poppen and philosophy professor Scott Rubarth, Joseph Pool ’26 embarked on a field study to Italy, exploring the religious and cultural diversity of ancient Italy by visiting archaeological sites, museums, and places of worship across Rome, Pompeii, Orvieto, and Paestum.
“Immersing myself in places that have existed almost unchanged for thousands of years allowed me to put what I’ve learned in economics, art history, philosophy, and religion classes all together in ways that will aid me going forward,” says Pool, a public policy and political economy major.
The group studied ancient archaeology, architecture, and art history, immersing themselves in ancient Greek temples, Etruscan burial sites, Roman monuments, and ancient religious sites.
“As someone of a Moroccan-Jewish background, seeing the remains and relics tied to my religion and history was an unforgettable experience,” he says. “Walking the ancient streets and touching the walls of these monuments allowed me to truly visualize what ancient religious and daily life was like. What I’ve learned in my classes made sure I was very prepared for this experience, but the personal anecdotes and discoveries on this field study will allow me to bring much more context and information back to my classes in the fall.”
Business management major Dorian Cabalo ’26 spent time exploring global citizenship on a field study in the Philippines. The experience gave her the opportunity to bring classroom knowledge to life, revealing how concepts like sustainability, economic development, and leadership play out in real-world settings. A visit to the Asian Development Bank highlighted how international organizations leverage finance and innovation to tackle global challenges, sparking Cabalo’s interest in pursuing a career at the intersection of business and social impact.
“This experience helped me step outside of my comfort zone and see how different parts of the world approach challenges, such as poverty and climate change,” says Cabalo. “Engaging directly with Filipino students, nongovernmental organizations, and local communities helped me develop stronger cross-cultural communication skills. One of my biggest takeaways was gaining a deeper understanding of my Filipino heritage and realizing how much culture, history, and identity shape people’s lives and values.”
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