By Jess Benninger ’25, editor-in-chief
Study abroad may seem daunting—especially for students enrolled in an accelerated program.
Despite the uncertainty of traveling across the globe, Lauren Jancsarics, a fourth-year physical therapy student, would not change her experience in spending a semester studying at the University of Waikato in Hamilton, New Zealand.
“Going into college I had no idea that I wanted to study abroad,” Jancsarics said. “When I met with Jill [Russel] I had no idea that I wanted to go to New Zealand. It just worked.”
Former director of global education, Jill Russel, and current associate director of global education, Jamie LaPine, have worked hard to allow students of all majors to have the opportunity to study abroad. Both staff members have served as good resources for students to talk to in terms of dedicating time to study abroad.
“I saw [the program], I thought it was cool, I met with Jill, and I had my mind set on it,” Jancsarics said.
For Jancsarics and other physical therapy (PT) majors, study abroad is well within reach despite the demands of LVC’s high quality accelerated doctorate program. Some students even feel that study abroad is a beneficial way to prepare for graduate courses.
“A nice part about it, especially being a PT major, was not having to study,” Jancsarics said. “The freedom of just having a semester off… I didn’t have the stress of studying all the time like I do now, so that was such a huge break.”
In addition to academic benefits, students are also entitled to financial assistance for study abroad experiences. Students are encouraged to apply for a scholarship from the Katherine J. Bishop Fund for Global Study. This generous $5 million donation has aided students in global education since 2022.
The deadline to express interest in spring 2026 study abroad programs is quickly approaching, with preliminary applications due Wednesday, Oct. 1. Students interested in learning more should contact Jamie LaPine at lapine@lvc.edu or visit lvc.edu/academics/study-abroad/.