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A group of Emporia State students will be going to London, England for 10 days next summer. The trip has been going on for 11 consecutive years. Applications are now open for the trip and will cost around $2,000 per person.
“I used to limit the group to 16 but kept raising the number year by year because so many good students wanted to go,” said Mel Storm, professor of English, modern languages and journalism. “I now have it capped at 24, and I’m not going to let it go higher than that.”
Students will have the opportunity to spend their days in London visiting places like Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, the Tower of London, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the British Museum, the British Library, and the Globe Theatre, according to emporia.edu.
ESU also offers a one-time travel grant through the Office of International Education to undergraduates with a GPA of 3.25 or better for $400, which can be raised to $500 or $600 depending on need, to assist with the travel costs. The grant for graduate students is a $250.
“The program offers a great deal of flexibility for participants while in London. One can live extravagantly day by day or be frugal,” Storm said. “I estimate that for an undergraduate if one receives the maximum grant one will need roughly an additional $2000 to cover everything, …Also, because the program counts as a summer class, financial aid can apply.”
Courtney Sleezer, senior English and communication major, went on the trip last summer. “I had never been outside of the country or flown before,” Sleezer said. “Dr. Storm was very helpful along the way giving travel advice and helping our group to schedule trips outside of London to places like Stonehenge and Hampton Court.” One of the things Storm tells the students is that he doesn’t lead a tour, Sleezer said.
The students have the ability to go and do what they like, within reason. “The best part about going to London is that you’re never bored,” Sleezer said. “Everywhere you turn there is something to do or see. In the short 10 days, it’s impossible to see everything. But, it encourages a return to the city.”
They will stay in central London in Bloomsbury, according to Storm. There will be opportunities to go to places outside London like Hampton Court, Salisbury, Bath, Stonehenge and Oxford depending on what students are interested.
An initial deposit of $350 is required before the application to Storm is considered complete. Storm is taking applications now.