This spring, Carroll College Honors Scholars took their studies beyond the classroom with a new study abroad experience, traveling to Vienna, Padua, and Venice over spring break. Designed as a culminating opportunity for students in the Honors program, the trip will be offered every other year and invites graduating scholars to engage directly with the places that shaped the authors and ideas they have studied.
Led by Co-Directors of the Honors Scholars Program, Dr. Alex Street, Associate Professor of Political Science & International Relations and Dr. Elvira Roncalli, Professor of Philosophy, 12 students explored cities once home to influential thinkers such as Galileo and Freud. Alongside visits to cultural landmarks, students encountered sites that prompted deeper reflection, including cathedrals, museums, and memorials connected to war and human suffering.
More than an academic experience, the trip encouraged students to consider how their time in the Honors program has shaped their perspectives and values. “This study abroad was so memorable, fun, perspective shifting, and profound,” said Myah Rietze, a senior psychology major from Coeur D'Alene, ID. “I could not think of a more meaningful culmination of my time in the honors program and at Carroll.”
Students also reflected on how experiencing these places firsthand deepened their understanding of the texts they studied. “I truly believe that the exposure to new places and cultures made us better understand the literature we read in the Honors courses,” said Mary Knight, a senior political science and international relations major from Denver, CO.
For Brynn Johnson, a junior biochemistry major on the pre-med pathway from Hayden, ID, the experience brought both challenge and inspiration. “Experiencing both the truths and the beauty of our world deepened my understanding of our responsibilities to others and my appreciation for the human experience,” she said.
Thanks to the generosity of Carroll alumnus John Gleaves '06, scholarships helped make the trip accessible, ensuring that cost was not a barrier for participating students.
Rooted in the Great Books tradition, Carroll’s Honors Scholars Program challenges students through discussion-based seminars while fostering intellectual curiosity and personal growth. This new study abroad experience builds on that foundation, offering students a meaningful way to connect their studies with the wider world.
At Carroll, education extends beyond the classroom, shaping not only what students learn, but who they become.
Full quotes from our students:
"This study abroad was so memorable, fun, perspective shifting, and profound. I can say with confidence that it will remain one of the best experiences of my life. I not only grew as an individual, but also grew closer relationships with my peers and professors. As a senior graduating this May, I could not think of a more meaningful culmination of my time in the honors program and at Carroll." ~ Myah Rietze, senior, psychology major, Coeur D'Alene, ID
"This trip was an incredible way to finish out my time in the Honors program and at Carroll. We accomplished so much in only one week, and I truly believe that the exposure to new places and cultures made us better understand the literature we read in the Honors courses. In Vienna, it was so fun to try our hand at psychoanalysis, and after Venice, I am definitely more Machiavellian. I hope that future classes are also able to enjoy this opportunity." ~ Mary Knight, senior, political science and international relations major, Denver, CO
"During this study abroad course, I experienced both the difficult truths of history and the extraordinary beauty of human culture. Visiting the Mauthausen Concentration Camp Memorial confronted me with questions about human suffering and responsibility. At the same time, experiencing places like St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, St Anthony's Cathedral in Padua, and St. Mark's Basilica in Venice, as well as seeing works of art by Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele, reminded me of the extraordinary and eternal beauty that is a product of strong faith and culture. Experiencing both the truths and the beauties of our world deepened my understanding of our responsibilities to others and my appreciation for the human experience." ~ Brynn Johnson, junior, biochemistry major/pre-med pathway, Hayden, ID
