A College Where the Emphasis is on You
Students and alumni of Juniata talk about the location of the College as “powerful” because of the many significant things that happen to them while they are here.
But perhaps the most powerful aspect of being here at Juniata is that this College is a gateway to an international education.
In the 2017 Open Doors report, Juniata ranks #10 in the nation for Leading Baccalaureate Colleges for our long-term study abroad programs.
Our students travel across the world where they conduct important research, use the universal language of music to connect with others, and assist doctors, farmers, and others during service learning trips. We welcome visiting scholars and students from 38 states in the U.S. and 36 countries around the world, and these students inform, educate, and expand the worldview of all of us who live and learn together.
Enjoy these stories—eight of hundreds that happen every year—of students who are, at the same time, of Juniata and of the world and who go on to live lives of purpose and consequence.
Service Translates to Experience
With a humanitarian heart and a head for healthcare, Brody interned at a therapy center here for seven weeks through an award-winning Juniata immersion program. He helped conduct hearing and vision exams and served as a translator for doctors. Brody earned a Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship to help cover the journey. He’s also studied in Spain, where he’ll return this spring for an internship in Madrid.Drawn to a Fresh Environment
An internship with the Army Corps of Engineers near Juniata led Calli to a more far-off endeavor in Ecuador, where she studied culturally sensitive solutions to environmental problems. Calli kept a sketchbook to capture memories from each day. “My sketches bridged the language barrier with my host siblings—they often sketched with me or asked to add to my book.”Getting in Touch With His Roots
Akira had no plans to study abroad when he was looking at colleges. Seeing how Juniata students’ lives were enriched through travel changed his mind. A native of Japan, Akira has spent most of his life in the United States. Living and learning in Sapporo for a semester helped him reconnect with his Japanese roots.A Published Researcher Before Grad School
At the University of Otago in New Zealand, Shanna’s independent geology research project led to a published paper in a New Zealand scientific journal. The international experience also made her grad school applications stronger—as well her eventual job interviews. Shanna kept a blog about her experience.A Close Encounter With Chimpanzees
During her trip, Carys was part of an adventurous chimpanzee hike in Nyungwe Forest. "We left our lodge at 4:30 a.m., drove into the forest, and hiked for two and a half hours until we finally found them. It was one of the most breathtaking moments of my life. There we were in the middle of this ancient forest, staring at our closest relatives, who were calmly lounging in a tree, completely unbothered by our presence." Carys is likely to visit her relatives again as her goal is to work in conservation in Sub-Saharan Africa.When Pennsylvania is Your Study Abroad Destination
Charles-Elie Latawiec hails from France and came to Juniata College to pursue his bachelor's degree. He saw a vast swath of America via road trips, from New Orleans to D.C. to California. But it was the international friends he made on campus that surprised and delighted him most. "Each shared their culture: From Pakistan to Myanmar to Australia to Peru. Studying at Juniata was like traveling everywhere. I would give so much to do that again. We are more than a family."Cure for the Travel-Bug Bite? Passport.
Amber traveled more than once during her time at Juniata, from to Spain to Japan to the Republic of Gambia in West Africa, where she toured nongovernmental agencies and learned about a political system in which individual citizens have limited freedom of speech. "Being able to learn from others' cultures was so valuable," Amber says.First-Hand Medical Experience and Second-Language Practice
When Owen arrived at Juniata, he'd already taken four years of Spanish in high school, and wanted to continue studying the language and culture. He found the ultimate answer with an internship in Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico. He interned at the Mexican Red Cross, and later in a second internship at Sanatorio Rebeca, where he watched from arm's length as doctors performed a C-section to deliver twins.Related Content
