Morales Receives Honorary Degree from American College of Thessaloniki
CSI President Dr. Tomás D. Morales and ACT President Richard L. Jackson at the ACT commencement
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College of Staten Island President Dr. Tomás D. Morales received the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from the American College of Thessaloniki (ACT), at the school’s annual commencement ceremony in Greece. ACT is a longtime study abroad partner with CSI.
ACT President Richard L. Jackson, who bestowed the degree on Dr. Morales, noted Morales’s “broad bicoastal and international vision of higher education and the dynamic role that he is playing in it,” and mentioned the CSI President’s impressive record of having held “senior administrative positions at the three largest public university systems in the United States, and I believe in the world: the California State University System, the State University of New York, and The City University of New York.”
“I want to thank the Board of Trustees for conferring this degree,” Morales said in his remarks after receiving the degree. “It’s a wonderful honor to be associated with such an outstanding institution.”
President Jackson also underscored the relationship between CSI and ACT. “The College of Staten Island is the oldest and most loyal study abroad partner of the American College of Thessaloniki and for over two decades students from the College Consortium for International Studies, which President Morales’s college manages, have added diversity to our campus and returned to the United States as ambassadors for Hellenic culture and values. In honoring President Morales today, we take pleasure in equally recognizing and honoring the longstanding vision and leadership of the College of Staten Island in the field of study abroad and international education.”
According to its mission statement, the “American College of Thessaloniki, a division of Anatolia [College], offers undergraduate and graduate programs of study characterized by reasoned and open inquiry, acquisition of the breadth and depth of knowledge associated with traditional university curricula, and achievement of the highest possible standards in student-centered teaching and faculty scholarship, with emphasis on individual growth. Through its educational, cultural, professional, and service activities, ACT seeks to contribute actively to the wider communities of Greece and Southeast Europe as well as to enhance understanding and friendship between the peoples of the United States and Greece.”
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CCIS would like to share the stories of our 2008 Summer Scholarship Recipients!
PLEASE READ THE EXPERIENCES OF FIVE OF OUR STUDENTS WHO HAD AN AMAZING TIME, AND DON'T FORGET TO RECOMMEND YOUR STUDENTS FOR FUTURE CCIS SCHOLARSHIPS.
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Chambery is a quaint little town that I very much enjoyed living in. Since I was born and raised in Miami, it was especially nice to live in a small city and get the feel for their way of life. As for the bad reputation of the French here in the states, I have made it my personal mission to correct it. Everywhere I went people were very kind, considerate, and incredibly helpful. School itself was a pleasure to attend. The chateau where schooling took place was located on a beautiful park, which consisted of several rose gardens. After class I loved sitting in the park and taking in the scenery. The school also offered a variety of excursions throughout the week that made assimilating much easier. In five weeks, I took approximately 800 pictures and have made friends around the world during this once in a lifetime experience!
Priscilla Carolyn Schmidt
Miami-Dade College
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I spent a month in Morocco as part of an intensive Arabic program, and it was one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my life. One weekend a small group of us went to explore the Old Medina of Fes, which is basically a gigantic, maze-like bazaar that seemingly never ends. Around lunch time, an Arab man offered to bring us to his restaurant and we gladly followed. Fifteen minutes later, and after walking into more and more desolate areas, we finally arrived at the restaurant equally terrified and relieved. The restaurant/home had the most beautiful tile work I have ever seen, the food was delicious, and the service was incomparable. After our meal we looked through the guest book and came upon one of the few English passages that read: “If you are an American and you were brought here the same route that we were, you are probably feeling very scared. Relax and don’t worry. Sometimes you just have to trust people.” This story summarizes what I learned while abroad. Even though you may be scared and very unfamiliar with a different culture, people are the same no matter where you go. And when people of two different places and cultures can both share an amazing day in the Medina, that is the beauty of travel and one of the joys of partaking on a journey abroad.
Ashia Wehbe
Montana State University |
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This past summer, I studied abroad at the American University of Rome. It was truly an experience of a lifetime. While there, I studied Italian language, culture, and art, but also learned much more. This experience taught me so much about the world, others, and myself. I stepped out of the comfort zone I know and tried new things. From figuring out the Roman bus system, to interacting with the people of Italy, to exploring the glorious city of Rome, each day brought new excitement and new challenges. I am so glad I had the chance to study abroad. It is an experience I will never forget.
Genna Randazzo
Central Michigan University
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This past summer I was fortunate enough to study abroad in Florence, Italy; and it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life thus far. I loved walking around the city being immersed in the culture and eating all the amazing pasta and gelato I could get! I also thoroughly enjoyed the class I took while I was there. It was a history course focusing on the civilization and culture during the Italian Renaissance. Before I took this class, I knew of the painters and sculptors of the Italian Renaissance, but I had no idea about the politics going on at that time. I learned all about the Medici family, and their significance during the Italian Renaissance. Even though my class was three hours long Monday through Thursday, I enjoyed every second of it. I had a wonderful professor who kept my attention and always had funny stories to tell about his childhood in Florence or his world famous moped. I knew study abroad was a great opportunity, but I never knew it would be so life changing!
Angela Mendoza
Saint Xavier University |
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My study abroad experience was by far the best experience of my life. Overall, it has enabled me to grow as an individual and has opened my eyes to the world. Studying abroad taught me how to adapt to the different cultures in aspects such as language, food, and body language as a way of life. Basically, I had to adjust certain things in my life to fit into their culture. For instance, Italy has a time called "siesta," where they close everything down to go home and take a nap, or eat lunch, and relax with family. Studying abroad also allows you to meet lots of new people. I met some of my best friends on this study abroad trip, and we still talk and see each other even though some of them live half way across the country. Everyday is a new learning adventure and what I have learned and experienced is knowledge that will last for a lifetime. For all of those students that are concerned about finances, I was in the same situation. But given what I know today, I wouldn't trade my experience for a million dollars.
Anthony Tisi
College of Staten Island/CUNY |
