Issue date: 2/21/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Rebekah MaKieve Maura O'Keefe, professor of social work, talks about the New Zealand program with fellow teachers last Thursday in the Oak Room. [Click to enlarge]

Sacramento State students were encouraged to broaden their skills and obtain a unique life experience today at the New Zealand study abroad panel hosted by the Office of Global Education.

The informational session was the second in a series of panels which featured students, alumni and faculty who recounted personal experiences and urged students to consider studying abroad. Each panel focuses on a specific country where study-abroad opportunities are offered through Sacramento State.

Sac State's Study Abroad Coordinator Janis Silvers provided students with the information necessary for them to obtain an education in distant countries. Silvers studied abroad in the Spain program when she was a college student and highly recommended the experience.

"Students can obtain proficiency in other languages and can bring a different perspective to their field of study," Silvers said.

Social work professor Maura O'Keefe encouraged students to take on the challenge of obtaining an education outside the United States. O'Keefe was a former study-abroad student 10 years ago and studied abroad in New Zealand for a year.

"The beautiful geography and friendly people earned my love for New Zealand," O'Keefe said.

O'Keefe was involved in the department of social work while in the country and studied family violence prevention.

Recreational Parks and Tourism Administrator Steve Gray toured New Zealand in 1980 with his former rugby team. Gray recounted his unique experience when being around a different culture.

"The people were more active and social than in the United States," Gray said.

Current student Alexandra Richardson was a former International Program student and provided her personal experiences when she studied abroad in England.

Richardson learned to cook for herself for the first time and recounted getting homesick at the beginning of her trip, but after a semester in England she learned to adjust and enjoyed her traveling experiences.

"I became more independent and responsible," Richardson said.

Jo Anne Struebing, a current Sac State student, attended the session in order to continue her love for travel. Struebing was enrolled in the U.S. Air Force and never got the opportunity to obtain her four-year degree.

Struebing traveled to different countries while in the Air Force and was eager to not only travel with the program, but obtain her education as well.

"I am back and ready to finish my degree while studying in New Zealand," Struebing said.

For more information on upcoming study abroad panels, visit the Office of Global Education's web site.

Vanessa Guerrero can be reached at vguerrero@statehornet.com.

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