January 14, 2013

Shawnee State University students Kiley Rudisell and Melissa Collins will be going to Morocco to study during Spring Semester.

Rudisell, daughter of Jackie and Bill Rudisell, of Okeana, Ohio, is a biomedical major and deaf studies minor at SSU.

"I feel very excited and nervous at the same time," Rudisell said. "I have traveled on a three-week trip to Europe with the People to People Student Ambassador group, but we were always in our groups. This will be a lot longer period of time, and I will be on my own."

Her parents are excited and they believe that it will be a great experience for her, she said.

"I look forward to learning about the culture and customs in Morocco," Rudisell said. "And, of course, I can't wait to travel every weekend, and especially all of spring break."

Collins, daughter of Sherman and Sherri Collins, of Franklin Furnace, is majoring in Social Sciences. She received the U.S. State Department's scholarship of $4,500 for the study abroad program.

"Studying abroad is going to be a life changing experience for me, and I am very excited," Collins said. "I hope to get to know a lot of the local students and other internationals at Al Akhawayn."

They will be studying at Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco.

SSU has six sister universities where students can go in the exchange program, including Chile, two in China, Germany, Morocco and Spain. SSU also is a member of ISEP, a direct study abroad program that offers 70 study abroad destinations for students.

Students can:

• Develop skills in problem solving;
• Develop foreign language and communication skills;
• Gain geographical, historical, and cultural knowledge;
• Gain an appreciation for and understanding of different cultures;
• Develop confidence and a stronger sense of personal identity; and,
• Make personal and professional contacts around the world.

Participants have the opportunity to travel and experience another culture first-hand, all while earning credits towards a degree.