There are few times in the life of an individual that offer as many transformational opportunities as the undergraduate college experience. From meeting new people, exploring academic offerings and discovering everything a university has to offer, the time can be filled with memories that last a lifetime.

For Chloe Higgins, who graduated from UW-Superior in December, the Study Abroad Program at the University of Wisconsin-Superior provided one of those opportunities she discovered – even before classes began.

“I learned about the Study Abroad Program from the tabling event during Weekend of Welcome in my freshmen year,” said Higgins, who moved from Florida to Superior where she attended middle and high school. “That’s when I met Anya Russom, the Study Away program coordinator.”

That fortunate meeting would end up playing a substantial role in Higgins’ studies at UW-Superior.

“In my freshman year, I saw that there was an opportunity [in the coming years] to travel to Costa Rica,” she said. “So, I took more Spanish classes and created my own individualized [self-designed] Hispanic Studies major because a Spanish major isn’t available.”

UW-Superior offers both short-term and semester/yearlong programs all over the world and throughout the United States. The Study Away Programs office also works with each student individually to ensure that academic and personal needs are met.

“I was most interested in traveling to a Hispanic country because I love their cultural values and the Spanish language,” said Higgins, who had studied Spanish through middle and high school and went on to major in exercise science and Hispanic studies.”

As her academic plan began to take shape, Higgins found assistance from the Study Away Office.

“During my junior and senior years, I met with Anya Russom and Jeannette Pucheu to put together a list of classes that I wanted to include in my major,” she said. “They helped me create a plan and bring it to life by coordinating a trip to Costa Rica.”

While traveling around the world and to destinations such as Costa Rica may sound like a dream vacation for many, Higgins used the opportunity to advance her education.  

“During the trip to Costa Rica, I took intensive Spanish language courses, completed an internship at a physical therapy clinic and I went on an excursion every weekend where I learned about the Hispanic culture, their values and how that shows up in daily life,” she said. “This helped me fulfill requirements for both of my majors at UWS, and it taught me how to be more self-reliant and confident in my decisions.”

Higgins, who also performed in the UW-Superior Orchestra as a student, was able to take part in a special trip called “Music in Ghana,” a celebration of music and how it allows individuals to connect. Organized by the Music Department, it included students from choir, orchestra and percussion as well as several alumni and community members. The trip took place during the university’s winter break with 16 students participating; all of whom were involved with the Music Department.

“During the trip to Accra, Ghana, we learned about polyrhythms in traditional Ghanaian drum music, the meaning behind native dances and arts and crafts, as well as the history of the Atlantic Slave Trade,” said Higgins. “We also performed with the National Ghanaian Orchestra on live television. This experience opened my eyes to different cultural perspectives and challenged me to grow in ways I didn’t know I could.”

Before coming to UW-Superior, Higgins had never traveled outside the United States. With the help of the Study Away program, she was able to study abroad in Ghana and Costa Rica while continuing her education and collecting life-long memories.

“Thanks to UWS, I have gained real-life skills that will help me navigate difficult situations all by myself,” said Higgins. “The Study Away Program and the faculty at UWS created once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that changed my life, and I couldn’t have had the same experience if I had done it alone. I am forever grateful for this.”

To learn more about Study Away Programs at UW-Superior, email Anya Russom at studyaway@uwsuper.edu