Spring Break at Columbus State University begins on March 17, but students aren’t slowing down. Cuba, Ecuador, England, and Washington D.C. are just a few places that CSU students will be spending their week off from classes.
 
“I encourage everyone to never miss an opportunity to travel and check out new places and new cultures,” said Phillip Vongsavang, a CSU sophomore majoring in history. “The CSU study abroad program is one of the best ways to do that.”
 
Vongsavang is one of five students participating in CSU’s first study abroad trip to Cuba. The group’s itinerary includes tours of Havana, Santa Clara, Trinidad, and the Bay of Pigs.
 
Also traveling South is Lauren Whitehurst, a graduate student in CSU’s biology department. Whitehurst, along with her professor Dr. Kevin Burgess and CSU alumna Samantha Worthy, will be exploring Ecuador’s Tiputini River via canoe. They will collect botanical samples for an ongoing study of the biodiverse region. This is Whitehurst’s fourth trip to Ecuador and third river expedition.

“Thanks to the generous support of our university, my studies in this field have led me to travel to many inspiring places around the world. Ecuador is by far my favorite place,” said Whitehurst.
 
The CSU women’s soccer team is also traveling abroad. They head to England later this week, where they will play four matches against professional teams, tour London, and complete academic projects related to their major. Having completed English tours in 2010 and 2014, this is the team’s third trip of its kind. Brooke Nail is one of the 20 student-athletes participating in the trip.
 
“As a political science major, I look forward to learning about the cultural, social, and political similarities and differences England possesses compared to the U.S.,” said Nail.
 
The CSU Honors College will delve into the American political system, as they take 18 students to Washington D.C. The group will meet with elected officials and tour the nation’s capitol.
 
“During this trip, my class and I will be visiting the monuments on the National Mall, Arlington Cemetery, Mount Vernon, Monticello, a few Smithsonians, and more!” said Maryah Thompson, a senior psychology major who is attending the D.C. trip.
 
For those who would like to stay close to home and spend their spring break giving back to the community, CSU is also planning an Alternative Spring Break. Volunteer opportunities are available each day from Tuesday through Friday to complete service projects benefiting House of Heroes, Phenix City Habitat for Humanity, Feeding the Valley, and Columbus Botanical Garden.