Junior biochemistry major Gia Kennedy always knew she wanted to study abroad in college.
“In junior high I remember thinking about it and wanting to go to either Greece or Spain. After that, it kind of became a given; it wasn’t a possibility, it was something I knew I wanted and would be doing in college.”
This semester, Gia made those dreams come true through Clemson’s CEA CAPA Science and Engineering Program in Alicante, Spain. As a biochemistry major and a Spanish studies minor, this program fit Gia’s course of study perfectly.
Gia takes Cellular Biology, Plant Biodiversity, Ecology, and B1 Spanish at the University of Alicante. The innovative and dynamic University of Alicante (UA) allows you to attend class and activities with Spanish and other international students for an integrated experience. UA also offers modern buildings, green areas, sports facilities, a 24-hour library, a museum, and commercial galleries.
“After classes, I’ll come home and make dinner and will usually hang out with my roommate and have our other friends over or go sit on the beach and talk together.”
Gia typically spends the weekends in different places, exploring, touring and taking in new cultures.
“We’ve gone to small Spanish cities, Valencia, Madrid, Barcelona, London, and I just spent my 20th birthday in Switzerland! We always fly the cheap airlines so I’m usually walking around the airport in my nice dinner shoes and sweatpants and carrying an extremely overpacked bag which I think is funny.”
Gia’s family has even flown in, and they have visited Mallorca together. Other places that Gia has visited during her stay in Spain include Paris, Nice, Cinque Terre, Florence, Rome, the Canary Islands, Portugal, Amsterdam and Greece.
“Besides traveling, during the week when I have free time I’m most often at the beach. The beach is a ten-minute walk from my apartment, so I’ll go there and meet with friends to swim, tan, pass a soccer ball or just hang out.”
This experience has meant a lot to Gia, who is Hispanic and wanted to learn more about and immerse herself into the language and cultures in Spain.
“Overall, studying abroad has been one of the best experiences of my life and I cannot recommend it enough. I really love it here and already do not want to go back.”
Victoria Cipollino
Victoria Cipollino is a junior biochemistry major studying abroad this semester in Florence, Italy.
Originally from Northport, NY in Long Island, Victoria loves Clemson and participates in many different activities around campus.
“I am involved in bioinformatics research with Dr. Alex Feltus, America Reads tutoring, an FCA small group and Collegians for Christ.”
Currently, Victoria is studying at abroad through one of Clemson’s third-party programs, which are coordinated by other universities and study abroad organizations. She is studying at the Institute of Lorenzo de’ Medici in Florence, Italy (LdM). LdM is noted as one of the most distinctive and well-established study abroad institutions in Italy.
“A typical day for me includes attending my classes in the heart of Florence, enjoying a cappuccino and cooking dinner with my roommates.”
In her free time, Victoria enjoys taking long walks and exploring the markets at Mercato Centrale, where she can find fresh fruit, pasta and sauces. She also loves traveling around other cities in Italy.
“Traveling by train on the weekends is incredibly easy, with so many nearby cities to visit. This weekend, I’m deciding between Livorno and Venice! Florence offers excellent public transportation and endless places to explore, making it the perfect city for my study abroad experience.”
Victoria is working to become fluent in Italian, and there is no better place to practice. For Victoria the choice to study abroad was easy and the choice of Italy was an easier one.
“I chose to study abroad because I love meeting people from different cultures and experiencing new environments. Italy, in particular, holds a special place in my heart, as I grew up immersed in Italian culture.”
Junior genetics major Gwen Schindel’s grandfather suffered from Huntington’s Disease, a rare, genetic neurodegenerative disorder that affects the brain and causes uncontrolled movements, cognitive decline and psychiatric symptoms.
Gwen’s mother had a 50/50 chance of receiving this gene and had to undergo extensive research to ensure that she did not have it. Fortunately, for Gwen and her mother, she did not carry the gene.
“However, I saw first-hand what this awful disease can do to a patient as well as their families. This inspired me to study Genetics so I can hopefully, in some way, help patients and families who are affected by genetic diseases/disorders!”
Additionally, during her adolescences Gwen was exposed to the field of genetics through her involvement in showing dairy cows. Her grandparents owned a dairy farm, and she began showing at 10 years old and continued for eight years.
“In the dairy show world, farmers will look at the genetics of their cows and breed them specifically to make an ideal cow – one that can produce a lot of milk and one that will catch the eye of a judge.”
Now that she is on campus studying what she loves, Gwen is so excited and grateful to be here, saying that Clemson was just the perfect fit for her.
“I have met so many amazing professors, faculty, and peers who have all guided me through these past two years at Clemson.”
Aside from academics, on campus Gwen is involved in the Clemson Genetics and Biochemistry Club, Clemson’s Fellowship of Christian Atheletes (FCA) and Clemson Hope, specifically in Write for Hope where Clemson students write letters to elementary age students in Title 1 schools.
After graduating, Gwen plans to pursue a master’s degree in genetic counseling or physician assistant studies.
“Our department as a whole has made such an amazing impact on the world already and I cannot wait to see what it does in the future! I know that I will be set up for success upon graduation because of this program.”
Gwen is originally from Ohio, is a biological sciences minor and enjoys spending time with friends, traveling, reading and watching football.
