International Programs Archives - �۶�ֱ�� University

�۶�ֱ�� Costa Rica Study Abroad Opens Doors to Culture, Language, and Lasting Impact

Office of University Communications — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 20:09:42 +0000

Alumna Yulia Putnam Shares How Four‑week Program Shaped Her Personal and Professional Journey

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—�۶�ֱ�� University students are invited to participate in an immersive Spanish-language study abroad program in Costa Rica, taking place May 17-June 13. The four‑week experience had an immediate and lasting impact on GWU alumna Yulia Putnam, a high school logic and sports marketing teacher at Pinnacle Classical Academy in Shelby, N.C.

Yulia Putnam

“Traveling to Costa Rica during my junior year of college was easily one of the most transformative chapters of my college life,” Putnam shared. “It wasn’t just a trip; it was a total immersion that felt like a gift from start to finish.”

Students earn six credit hours of Spanish, which may be applied to General Education requirements or toward a Spanish major or minor. The academic opportunity also fulfills the University’s Professional Readiness Experience (PRE) requirement for graduation.

Open to students of all proficiency levels, the program places participants with Costa Rican host families and includes weekday coursework designed to significantly improve Spanish language skills and intercultural understanding—competencies that greatly enhance future career or graduate‑school opportunities. The program coordinator accompanies the group for the first 10 days, and students remain for the full month to complete their coursework and cultural immersion.

Putnam recalled the best part of her stay was experiencing the culture to the fullest—seeing the sights, tasting the food and learning the language. She explained, “There’s just something different about practicing a language while you’re actually living in the environment where it’s spoken.”

The Arenal Volcano in La Fortuna

She also noted that her time in the Central American country impacted with her long after she returned home. “That experience didn’t just stay in Costa Rica; it came home with me and completely reshaped how I teach,” Putnam observed. “It taught me that the best learning happens when you step outside your comfort zone and truly engage with the world.”

Putnam works to instill that same spirit of adventure in her students. She stated, “I try to bring that same sense of wonder and ‘Pura Vida’ spirit to my students, showing them that education is about more than just textbooks—it’s about connection and perspective.”

“Pura Vida” means pure life or simple life, and represents Costa Ricans relaxed attitude towards life. It can mean be used to say, “Hello,” or “Goodbye,” “I’m doing well,” or “It’s great.”

Putnam also encouraged current �۶�ֱ�� students to seize the opportunity. “To anyone even remotely thinking about going: don’t hesitate,” she advised. “You’ll come back with more than just memories; you’ll come back with a clearer sense of who you are and a much bigger heart for the world around you.”

Additional Program Details

Included Weekend Excursions

Throughout the program, students participate in organized weekend excursions that highlight Costa Rica’s cultural and environmental diversity. Planned visits include:

La Paz Waterfall Gardens and Doka Coffee Plantation
Manuel Antonio National Park
Irazú Volcano National Park

Yulia Putnam and the �۶�ֱ�� students pose for a photo before a ziplining trip.

Optional Independent Travel Opportunities

Students also receive one full free weekend and one to two additional free days to explore Costa Rica independently. Recommended destinations include:

Arenal Volcano.
Guanacaste beaches.
Whitewater rafting on the Pacuare River.
Monteverde Cloud Forest.
Puerto Viejo.
Horseback riding.
Ziplining adventures.

Requirements and Contact Information

Participants must have a valid passport and plan their flights separately from program tuition. For details or to register, students should contact Dr. Teresa R. Phillips at tphillips@gardner-webb.edu.

�۶�ֱ�� University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., �۶�ֱ�� prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Become More at .

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�۶�ֱ�� College of Education Launches Pilot Study Abroad Program in London and Paris

Office of University Communications — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 16:01:53 +0000

Immersive Trip Connects Classroom Learning with International School Settings to Strengthen Global Awareness and Professional Practice

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—�۶�ֱ�� University is launching a new College of Education study abroad experience in London and Paris, with the first group leaving soon. Assistant Professor Dr. Cherie Aldrich noted that the primary goal of the program is to broaden teacher candidates’ understanding of education through global perspectives on teaching, learning, leadership, and equity. The trip also includes non-education majors.

Dr. Cherie Aldrich

“By engaging directly with schools, educators, and cultural institutions abroad, students will observe how different countries structure their educational systems, support diverse learners, and approach curriculum and instruction,” Aldrich explained. “Ultimately, the experience supports the College of Education’s commitment to preparing educators who are globally informed, culturally responsive, and equipped to teach in increasingly diverse learning environments.”

Junior history education major Allie Johnson, of Bakersville, N.C., expressed her excitement about the international program. She has dreamed of visiting Paris and London since childhood, and the chance to study in these cities and connect their rich culture and history to her future career makes the experience especially meaningful to her.

A key part of the itinerary is a school‑based learning placement at Gidea Park Primary School in London, where students will observe classrooms and take part in professional discussions about teaching strategies and student support. “This opportunity benefits students by helping them develop cultural competence, global awareness, and reflective teaching practices,” Aldrich noted. “Exposure to international classrooms and cultural contexts encourages students to think critically about how educational policies, community values, and cultural traditions shape schooling.”

Gidea Park Primary School

Alani Keiger, a senior nursing student from Newton, N.C., is grateful to participate. “My expectation going on this trip to London and Paris is to learn more about the culture in both countries,” she said. “We have the opportunity to learn more about the school systems, and I am excited to see how they compare to the schools in America.”

Midway through the program, the group will travel to Paris for continued study of education in a global context. Students will receive an introduction to French culture and the French education system and take part in educational and cultural site visits, including museums and civic spaces. These activities support discussions on curriculum, identity, language, and national perspectives on schooling.

The Louvre Museum

Renva Barthell, of Concord, N.C., who graduated this past summer from the educational leadership program, is enthusiastic about exploring opportunities outside online instruction and the traditional brick‑and‑mortar classroom. “Through the CEPA Study Abroad program, I anticipate engaging in multiple learning experiences focused on comparing and contrasting educational systems in the United States with those in the United Kingdom and France,” she observed. “I expect to be introduced to new approaches to education that will further strengthen my effectiveness as an educator.”

The program incorporates structured academic components, such as guided reflections and daily blog posts that are designed to guide participants in connecting their insights to broader course objectives. The students will also write a final analysis that integrates learning from both countries and connects these observations to their professional development.

Oversight is provided by Dr. Bernhard Martin, Study Abroad director, in collaboration with Deborah Hill. International travel logistics, school visits, and cultural programming are coordinated through CEPA, an organization specializing in university‑level experiential learning programs in the U.S. and Europe.

Learn more about Study Abroad at �۶�ֱ��.

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Through Global Partnerships, Gardner-Webb Offers Several Opportunities to Study Abroad

Office of University Communications — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 17:16:36 +0000

Santiago Agreda-Martinez and Jordan Joseph are Among 29 Students Participating in Programs in 2023-24

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—After studying German at �۶�ֱ�� University with professor Dr. Bernhard Martin, Santiago Agreda-Martinez and Jordan Joseph applied to study abroad in Mannheim, Germany. They began their adventure on July 31. Joseph will stay for two semesters, and Agreda-Martinez will be back at GWU for the 2024 Spring Semester.

Martin also serves as director of International Programs at �۶�ֱ��. He is excited to see more students taking advantage of international opportunities. For the 2023 Spring Semester, four students went abroad. In May and June 2023, 15 participated in intensive summer schools, and in spring 2024, eight students will be studying abroad—three in Liverpool, three in Athens, and two in Germany. In addition to the students traveling to other countries, �۶�ֱ�� has four German exchange students on campus this semester—two from Mannheim and two from Trier University.

Martin offered the benefits of studying abroad. “Every company or grad program looks at study abroad in a very positive light,” he explained. “This is one of those markers that makes you stand out. It says something about who you are that you are willing to jump into a new environment and see where you can go with that.”

�۶�ֱ�� also has partnerships with universities in Malta, Greece, Spain, Quebec, and Sweden. Martin noted that students can choose a semester abroad, summer sessions, or short trips. He advised students who might be interested in international studies to start the conversation early in their college career.

“They can come to my office, and I can listen to what they hope to accomplish and design a program for them,” Martin stated. “We partner with universities that teach courses in English, so the language barrier is not there.”

From left, Jordan Joseph and Santiago Agreda-Martinez pose with other students who attended a soccer match, which was one of the trips arranged by the Intensive International Summer Academy.

Agreda-Martinez and Joseph are in an exchange program offered through a partnership between GWU and Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University (DHBW) in Mannheim, Germany. The school is one of Germany’s largest and best-known institutions for career-integrated dual study programs.

As part of their exchange, DHBW gave Agreda-Martinez and Joseph 3,000 euros and offered them a free four-week German course at the Intensive International Summer Academy. “I have learned so much German,” related Agreda-Martinez. “I met so many people from different parts of the world and became very close friends with all of them. The best part so far is the excursions the school does for the students to get out and have fun. My favorite excursion is the soccer match between Hoffenheim and SC Freiburg.”

Agreda-Martinez, of Charlotte, N.C., is majoring in criminal justice administration and minoring in homeland security, German, and military science. He already speaks Spanish and English and wanted to expand his language skills by adding German.

Joseph, of Clayton, N.C., is a junior. He’s pursuing a double major in international business and Christian studies with a concentration in missiology and a minor in German. “I chose my major because I want to help spread the word of God to those all around the world and to help people,” he explained. “I am getting a business degree to make it easier for me to go into countries where missionaries are not allowed to enter.”

For more information about �۶�ֱ��’s international opportunities, email Martin at bmartin@gardn e r-webb.edu or call him at 704-406-4415.

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