Newswise — If you could design a summer study project that would " a) show up on your college transcript, b) be funded by a grant, and c) fulfill a personal passion " what would the project be?
A trip to the World Cup Games in Germany? An archaeological dig in Belize Valley? A drawing marathon in New York City?
Sixty Hendrix College students and faculty will be exploring passions such as these this summer, thanks to a new curricular program at the college called Your Hendrix Odyssey which kicked off in fall 2005. So far, the Odyssey Program has funded almost $250,000 in grants for students and faculty to explore projects at home and abroad that are academically challenging and personally intriguing.
A group of 10 students and two biology professors leave June 3 for a two-week field study experience to the Four Corners region of the U.S. where Colorado, Arizona, Utah and New Mexico meet. They'll study the ancient Anasazi culture and the modern-day culture of the Navajo people. They will also explore the natural history of the region and keep a journal detailing their experiences.
The summer odyssey projects will also take students to several other regions of the United States and globally to Germany, Belize, Martinique, Mexico, France, El Salvador, England, South Africa and Greece.
Among some of the other summer adventures:
"¢ Kevin DeStefano of Plano, Texas, will travel to the 2006 World Cup Games in Germany on a journey to discover how soccer " the "world's game " truly affects the world. He'll create a documentary that will include interviews with fans, staff, players and coaches to unveil his findings.
"¢ Stephen Dyle of Springfield, Mo., who plans to become an archaeologist, will investigate the mystery of the ancient Mayans by participating in an active dig project in Belize Valley.
"¢ Trenton Elliott of Pyatt, Ark., pursuing a career as an emergency room physician, will volunteer for a medical mission in a small city on the southern tip of Mexico. He will be a part of a medical mobile unit that travels to small villages providing treatment and vitally needed medical supplies.
"¢ Maggie Russell of Germantown, Tenn., a skilled painter, will apply her strokes in a New York Drawing Marathon where she will study under nationally renowned feminist artist Susanna Coffey. She will study painting, sculpture and art history.
"¢ Professor Randall Kopper and Anna Anthony, a chemistry major from Greenbrier, Ark., will analyze peanut proteins to find out why they are so resistant to digestion for approximately 3 million Americans who are allergic to peanuts.
"¢ Ashley Simmons-Jinesta, an international relations and global studies major from Maumelle, Ark., will investigate feminism within the Zapatista Army of National Liberation community in Chiapas, Mexico.
For a complete list of the summer Odyssey projects, click on http://www.hendrix.edu/odyssey/odyssey.aspx?id=4606.
The theory of the Odyssey program is that you learn more when you do more. Beginning with the entering class of 2005, all Hendrix students are required to complete an approved experience from at least three of six Odyssey project categories. The experiential learning categories are artistic creativity, global awareness, professional and leadership development, service to the world, undergraduate research and special projects. To be eligible for transcript credit and for funding, students and faculty must submit proposals for their projects to an Odyssey committee for approval.
Current juniors and seniors are eligible to participate on an elective basis. Students who graduate in 2009 and after will receive an experiential transcript that is a record of all of their Odyssey Program activities.
Hendrix, founded in 1876, is a selective, residential, undergraduate liberal arts college emphasizing experiential learning in a demanding yet supportive environment. The college is among 150 colleges featured in the 2007 edition of the Princeton Review America's Best Value Colleges. Hendrix has been affiliated with the United Methodist Church since 1884. For more information, visit http://www.hendrix.edu.
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