Blocker Fellows Reflect on Revelations
22 March 2017 Blocker Fellows Reflect on Revelations
Returning Blocker Fellows reflected on their experiences studying abroad in Germany during a student showcase earlier this semester. Named in honor of the generosity of Julius G. Blocker 53, the fellowships are awarded to students studying German language and culture with a 3.0 GPA or higher and require that students complete a cultural project during their travels.
Taylor Gorycki 18, who studied at the University of Freiburg, reflected on identity, culture and a sense of place in her project titled The Nomad: A Travelers Journey around the World. Gorycki undertook courses on the European Union, migration and culture that accompanied academic trips throughout the European Union.
Not only do these course-related excursions give you a better insight into the strengths and challenges of the European Union, but they also give you the experience you need to build your rsum and prepare for an international career regardless of what path you take, said Gorycki.
Other Blocker Fellows included:
Conner Clemens 18, who chronicled her experiences at Freiburg University, developed a cultural awareness of the German people and their customs.
Hannah Fricke 18, who also studied at Freiburg, examined how sustainability manifested in the citys local policy and infrastructure.
Guadalupe Mendoza 18, who studied at Humboldt University in Berlin, applied her major in anthropology to examining her own integration into German culture and subcultures.
Noelle Nichols 18, who studied at universities in Leipzig and Freiburg, researched food sustainability in the German culture, which required her to interview Germans in their native language.
Jared Ratzel 18, who studied through the Norwich University program in Berlin, had the opportunity to apply his majors in studio art and German studies to examine local art and culture.
Sophie Wensberg 18, who studied at CityLab Berlin through Norwich University, discovered how her studies in architecture shape her sense of self.
Julius Blocker 53, benefactor of the fellowships, majored in modern languages and developed a love for Germany that grew while he earned a masters in international affairs at Columbia University. This love continued during his time as a Fulbright scholar at Free University in West Berlin, and endured for the remainder of his life.