FALL 2025
MEET OUR NEW DIRECTOR!
2025 PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS SEE WHO’S STUDYING ABROAD RIGHT NOW!
GoingGlobal
THE STAN AND KAREN JOHNSON OFFICE OF GLOBAL PROGRAMS
PHOTO BY KATELYN LIVORSE IN ÈZE, FRANCE
Student Advisors
Adam Budzik
Abigail Collier
Grace Graner
Julianne Hartkop
Jessica Li
Katelyn Livorse
Kaitlyn Rumbuc
Katie Shea
Director
Derek Bradley
Global Programs Coordinator
Rachel Anderson
Global Programs Assistant
Patti Bardy
Senior
Erik Bardy
Safety
GoingGlobal
MEET DEREK BRADLEY!
Derek Bradley, Grove City College's new director of the Stan and Karen Johnson Office of Global Programs, is a 2003 GCC alum. He completed an M.A. in Intercultural Studies through Wheaton College while teaching in China before returning home to Northern Virginia to work for International Student Exchange Programs (ISEP). Derek previously managed the education abroad offices at the University of North Carolina Greensboro and University of the Pacific. He speaks Mandarin Chinese and studied Spanish, Japanese, and Korean.
In his new role at Grove City College, Derek seeks to share his passion for study abroad. His goals include making study abroad accessible and empowering students to explore God’s creation and to learn how to bridge cultural differences while growing in their faith and in their personal and professional development He is excited about creating opportunities to both mobilize students and internationalize the campus. Derek and his wife, Jill, live in Grove City and enjoy board games and visiting national parks.
OGP Student Advisors
TheStanandKarenJohnsonOfficeofGlobalPrograms
AbigailCollier Chemistry‘26 ACISummer‘25inGreeceandItaly
AdamBudzik InternationalBusiness‘27 StudyAbroadFall‘24inFrance
JessicaLi Math‘27
InternationalStudentfromChina
KatelynLivorse PoliSci/French‘26 StudyAbroadSpring‘25inFrance
JulianneHartkop SocialWork‘26 StudyAbroadFall‘24inGermany
GraceGraner ExerciseScience‘27 StudyAbroadSpring‘25inItaly
KatieShea Biology/Health‘28 Hopestostudyabroadinthefuture!
KaitlynRumbuc Philosophy‘27 StudyAbroadSpring‘25inItaly
OGPPhoto ContestWinners
In October, the OGP held its annual photo contest. Any Grove City College student who had studied abroad, gone on a travel course, or otherwise traveled with GCC during the 2024-2025 academic year or the summer of 2025 was asked to submit their best photo from their time abroad.
Students, faculty, and staff were invited to see the photos on display, and vote for their favorites in two categories - photos with landcapes or interiors as the main focus, and photos featuring one or more of our world travelers. The prize? A canvas print of the winner’s own photograph!
1st Place: Landscape & Interiors
Erien Schwab
January 2025 | Florence, Italy
The story behind this photo is actually quite a funny one. When I was on the Winter intercession trip to Rome, a group of us got very sick. I was one of those people. The class went to the Duomo one rainy day, and it was absolutely beautiful I was able to see the inside of the building, but unfortunately, I was too sick to climb up to the top. So, I sat outside on a bench waiting for everyone to return. While I was sitting, I got bored and stared throwing some pebbles into a nearby puddle. It was then when I saw the reflection of the Duomo and was able to appreciate its beauty from the outside. I started messing around with angles and eventually used the panorama option on my iPhone to take the picture you see now! I really wanted to capture the reflection of the building while also bringing attention to how big this structure was. I'm so glad that I was sick that day and able to see the beauty of the Duomo in such an unexpected way
2nd Place: Landscape & Interiors
Alex Anderson
Spring 2025 | Cinque Terre, Italy
This was from one of my favorite trips during my semester abroad. We spent the day hiking town to town, and I had never seen anything like it! Every building was so colorful and unique, and I feel that this photo vibrantly captures that
3rd Place: Landscape & Interiors
Ginger Schiffmayer
June 2025 | Syros, Greece
Our image of Greece is inextricably linked with Athens Democracy, Philosophy, and the white-marble Parthenon atop the barren Acropolis Yet for a time in the 1800s, right after the War of Independence, a very different kind of Greek city almost became the capital: Ermoupoli on the island of Syros, known for its connection to European monarchies, thriving trade, a large Catholic population, elaborate flavors of loukoumi (Turkish Delight but don't let the locals hear you say that!) and colorful neoclassical architecture. Ermoupoli was built to display the renewed glories of Greece in the "modern" age. The streets – foot traffic only – are literally paved with marble Building after sparkling building is stacked on top of each other over the crystal Mediterranean harbor, culminating in a massive yellow cathedral with a royal-blue dome. This picture was taken in that Cathedral, Agios Nikolaos. Affectionately nicknamed "St Nicholas the Rich," it is a far more elaborate version of St Nicholas the Poor, a small medieval chapel It was commissioned by King Otto of Greece, a Bavarian prince who became the first king of the independent Greek state at 17.
The most charming thing about Syros? Because it never became the capital, it's surrounded by farmland and stillthriving communities dating to the medieval era. The locals are unbelievably friendly, the food is remarkably good, and the architecture is one-of-a-kind. Nothing gives you a traveler's superiority complex like sitting in a medieval village that you hiked up a mountain to get to, traditional live music in the background, souvlaki in hand, overlooking the glittering Ermoupoli...and spotting Santorini in the distance, swarmed with yachts carrying day-tripping Instagrammers.
1st Place: People
Alex Anderson
Spring 2025 | Interlaken, Switzerland
While studying abroad, my friends and I found so much joy in traveling and experiencing God's creation in new ways. Switzerland was the very first trip we went on, and the mountains were like nothing we had ever seen before This picture is special to me because it captures the joy of the friendships that grew during this experience and how beautiful and good God is!
2nd Place (tie): People
Sydney Varga
January 2025 | Loch Lomond, Scotland
The photo I took in Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park captured the peaceful end of a long and exciting day exploring Scotland. Our travel course was Christ & Civilization, and we were learning about the history of Christianity in different parts of both England and Scotland. On the day my picture was taken, we woke up in Edinburgh, Scotland. Our day began early in the morning with Dr Byun and Dr McFeeters each driving vans full of students to Stirling Castle. The castle was beautiful, unlike anything we have in the U.S. and dating back to at least the 12 century After Stirling Castle, we planned on driving out to the highlands. th
We’d already been in the car for a long time that day, and almost everyone was feeling carsick and tired Some students were excited, eagerly on the lookout for a highland cow, and some students didn’t know if the highlands were worth the long driving day However, when Dr Byun finally pulled over randomly and we got out of the car, we were in awe of the beautiful mountains over the water. I pulled out my film camera, and snapped a picture of one of the students photographing the breathtaking view. That was the most we saw of the highlands, at the very edge of them. After that, we turned around to head back to Edinburgh, stopping at a quaint café to get some coffee for the drive During our time in Scotland, another student and I were fighting a sickness So, at times, it was difficult to want to explore in the freezing weather; however, the Lord gave us strength and we were able to attend almost every adventure. It was incredible to witness God’s creation, see the history of Christianity, and how God has been working in a country across the ocean.
2nd Place (tie): People Julia Ayers
June 2025 | Seljalandsfoss, Iceland
GROVERS FALL
Anastasia Brown ‘27
Oxford K
Sonya Campbell ‘26
Mukono
Ashlyn Devaney ‘26 Sociology
Cork Ireland
Al C
Natalie Gilkinson ‘27 Entrepreneurship
Barcelona Spain
Veronica Grassell ‘27
Spanish Secondary Ed Salamanca Spain
Emily Haught ‘27 Entrepreneurship
Florence Italy
S ABROAD 2025
Cecilia Landis ‘27
Marielle McGurrin ‘27 International Business Paris France
English
Oxford UK
Elise Schlemeier ‘27 Communications Toulouse France
Cayla Lawrence ‘27
Chemistry
Oxford UK
Madelyn Taliaferro ‘27
Finance/Accounting Prague Czech Republic
Megan TeKrony ‘27 Psychology
Tuscania Italy
Anna Scott ‘27 Design & Innovation
Edinburgh UK
Leyla Zwolinski ‘27 Entrepreneurship
Florence Italy
Greetings From Our Students Abroad!
Veronica Grassell on studying in Spain:
Studying in a foreign country has taught me how connected humankind really is even from hundreds of miles away. We all live, breathe, and enjoy, but in unique ways that change your perspective of what/who really is “foreign.” It’s beautiful.
Anastasia Brown on studying in the UK:
Study abroad has been an opportunity to stretch and challenge myself in ways I never would have anticipated before I arrived. Every new experience has grown me in confidence and given me new ways to look at the world: from navigating public transportation in a new country, to grocery shopping in another currency, to connecting with people at a church that looks different from home but still carries the same joy ofthe Good News.
AIXOISE PATISSIÈRE. PHOTO BY KATELYN LIVORSE
DIRECTIONS
CakeCitron
INGREDIENTS
Pastry:
1/2 cup softened, unsalted butter
2 ¼ cup sugar
Zest + juice of 1 orange
4 eggs
1 ⅔ cup flour
½ tablespoon yeast
1 ½ cup of heavy whipping cream
½ teaspoon salt
Glaçage:
1/4 cup orange juice
3/4 cup confectioner’s sugar
Cake Citron
1. Pre-heat the oven to 300°F.
2. In a stand mixer, work the butter, sugar, and zest until soft and combined.
3. Add the eggs one at a time.
4. After sifting, add the flour, yeast, and salt, and mix until well blended.
5. Pour in heavy whipping cream.
6. Pour the batter into a loaf cake pan and bake for 30-35 minutes or until a knife comes out clean when inserted into the center of the cake.
7. Coat the cake in the “glaçage” immediately after coming out of the oven.
8. Bake again for 2 minutes to allow the “glaçage” to crystallize.
StraightfromtheSouthofFrance Enjoythisrecipebroughtbackby KatelynLivorsewhostudiedabroadin Aix-en-Provenceinspring2025! “Glaçage” (Icing)
1. Mix the orange juice and sugar until homogenous.
2. Coat the top of the cake completely.