East Texas

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following was contributed by Jason Camp, Lon Morris College vice president of development.

JACKSONVILLE — Recently, a group of Lon Morris students and faculty spent 10 days in southern Spain learning about European and Spanish history and culture.

The trip, organized by history professor, Dr. Zachary Wingerd, was in conjunction with a course in World Civilization. Wingerd along with communications instructor Amanda Jo Chesshir, took four Lon Morris students to Madrid, Toledo, Granada, Costa del Sol, Cordoba and Seville.

The group also took an extension to the North African country of Morocco. The students studied Spanish history for two weeks on their Jacksonville campus before embarking.

“It was a joy not just to talk about Spanish history with my students, but to be able to see with them the remnants of that history,” Wingerd said.

Highlights included visiting the Alhambra in Granada, sailing across the Strait of Gibraltar to visit Northern Africa, visiting the Torre del Oro in Seville, and wandering through the Medina (old town) in a Moroccan village.

“We plan to sponsor a trip every year, so when students come to Lon Morris they will have the opportunity to travel,” Amanda Chesshir, said. “Though I am a faculty member, I signed up to be a student in the class in order to have a better understanding of Spanish history. One of the best memories of the trip was sitting at the base of the Cathedral in Granada one evening discussing Cervante’s short stories with our group. Learning doesn’t get more real than that.”

Wingerd added, "The study of history and culture is made more interesting when students can see, touch, hear, smell, and taste that which is usually only words on paper. This type of cross-cultural experience leaves a lasting impression not soon forgotten and is why we will continue to encourage study combined with travel as part of the Lon Morris experience."

Next May Lon Morris College plans to sponsor a tour of Europe.

Lon Morris students at the Strait Of Gilbraltar during their recent trip to southern Spain and Morocco
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