Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

Less than four weeks and I'll be back home in Rhode Island. I have the opportunity to spend a week in Papua New Guinea with a village outside of Port Moresby, the capital - flying out tomorrow morning at 3:30am. And then a week to study before final exams. And finally, a few days on the south island of New Zealand - driving around, experiencing, and photographing the breath-taking beauty of the island's wildlife and topography. It's hard to believe the semester is coming to a close - and my only regret is not being able to stay longer! On the other hand, it will be exciting to return to friends and family with a new-found enthusiasm for science and nature. Experiencing the wildlife throughout Queensland and the Northern Territory has given me a renewed interest in my own backyard wildlife in Rhode Island - I'll return an avid bird-watcher, insect-collector, "bush-hacker", and nature photographer! I can't thank the Shinn foundation enough for all these great experiences that have, and continue to shape my academic and personal perspectives!

Scaly-breasted Lorikeet (taken from my room window!)

Scholars Giving Back

Check out the latest on the Shinn Fund in What's News. Thank you Joy, Maria, Patrick and Brian for sharing your experiences. Daniel's photos also help illustrate how great study abroad is. Hopefully you have inspired others to apply and give!

Open a book, open the world

If you are planning to attend Homecoming, stop by the Adams Library and support the Shinn Fund by buying a book or two to benefit our study abroad scholarships!

Study Abroad Fair

Monday, October 4, 2010 – The RIC Study Abroad Office will host the first annual Study Abroad Fair for students to learn about how and where to study abroad while they are students at the college. Representatives from off-campus affiliated programs (AIFS, CIS, API and TEAN) as well as on-campus programs will be there to answer questions from 11:00 a.m. - 2 p.m. in the President’s Dining Room in Donovan Dining Center (mezzanine level).

Shinn: Retired

Thanks Jim and Richard for being excellent spokesmen! It is their dedication, along with other retired members of the RIC community that keep us going. Thank you also to our current "retired" board members - Elaine Perry and Elli Panchias.

Busy Day Ahead

The Fund has a full schedule today! Hope you can join us on the quad for Student Activities Day (12:30-2 p.m.) and then later in Alumni Lounge (4 to 5:30 p.m.) to meet our faculty liaisons.

Middle East a popular student destination

Check out this recent story from the NYTimes on how more and more students are choosing to study in the Middle East. Did you know that the Shinn Fund has supported RIC students studying in Jordan, Palestine, United Arab Emirates and Egypt?

Sarah Petronio just got to Spain today! Everything is going great so far. Check her blog. She will be adding to it throughout her stay in Spain.

Find us on Facebook!

We have just created a Shinn Study Abroad - RIC on Facebook!

Where are they now...?

From time to time, we hope to be able to update you on what former Shinn Scholars are up to...

Jennifer Courtney (Spain - 1999) is now living in Turkey. She recently emailed to say:
"I will continue to support the fund because it really was one of the most important events in my life. I decided to become a Spanish teacher after I came back from Spain and that was only possible with Shinn. Now I am in Turkey teaching Spanish...who would have thought? A big hello to Dr. Motte, Dr. Schneider, Mrs. Perry, Mrs. Shinn and Dr. Margenot...."

Are you a former Shinn Scholar? Please let us know what you are up to. And a huge thanks to Jen for continuing to support the Fund!

Follow Daniel in Australia!

Hello all!

Greetings from the Land Down Under! I hope this email finds you all healthy and happy. If you're interested, you can follow my adventures and studies on my blog, at http://terraaustralisignota.blogspot.com. Follow along, comment, share your own experiences, etc. - I look forward to your contributions!

Thanks!
Daniel

PS - Daniel's blog is also listed on the Shinn Scholars Blog section of the Shinn blog.

Honors Program & Shinn Scholars

Spencer Hall, Director of Honors and Professor of English, and Shinn supporter, recently posted a 2010 review of the program in What's News. The story has a great mention and photo of Daniel, Kevin and Sarah. "...Speaking of international travel, I was particularly pleased that three members of the General Education Honors Program were selected to receive Shinn Scholarships to study abroad next fall and/or spring...."

All,

What a great good think to keep all those invested in the Shinn Study Abroad Fund connected!

Best fortune new travelers!

Dr. Craig W. Shinn

Bound for the Land Down Under!

G'day mates! Today marks the 1-week count-down till my date of departure to Cairns, Australia. My itinerary boasts of stops in Chicago, Phoenix, San Fransisco, and Sydney before reaching my final destination in Cairns (pronounced "cans"). To prepare for the adventure, I have a genuine Australian "Barmah" bush hat, a Dummies guide to Australia, and enough excitement to last the 5 month period I'll be spending in the Land Down Under! Thanks to the folks behind the Shinn study abroad scholarship for helping fund this exploration! And all you readers - keep an eye out for updates once I arrive in the tropics!
- Daniel Reeves

Spain and Australia

2010 Shinn Scholars:
Daniel Reeves, of Manville, a junior biology major, will be traveling to James Cook University in Cairns, Australia to study sharks.

Sarah Petronio, of Cranston, a junior Spanish/elementary education major, will be studying at the University of Granada in Spain

Kevin Gravier, of Coventry, a sophomore Spanish/secondary education major, will be traveling to the University of Cadiz in Spain

To date, the scholarship has supported 59 RIC study abroad scholarships in the last 21 years, totaling over $200,000. They have studied in 24 different countries on 6 continents.

Welcome!

Thanks for visiting the Shinn Study Abroad blog! In the coming days, weeks and months please check back for updates on the Fund's activities as well as to read about what our three 2010 Shinn Scholars are up to. Two will be traveling to Spain and the third to Australia!