Page 12 - Academic Report FINAL VERSION WEB

FEATURES
Knights Impact 2019
Dr. Laura Thomason
A dozen MGA students recently embarked on
the adventure of a lifetime when they boarded the
Carnival Breeze out of Port Canaveral, FL to begin
the 2019 Knights Impact international service learn-
ing program. The students, accompanied by program
directors Dr. Laura Thomason and Prof. Chris Tsa-
vatewa, engaged in service learning activities in the
Dominican Republic, St. Thomas, and Puerto Rico,
and team-building activities in Grand Turk during the
week-long program.
Knights Impact, now in its third year, offers stu- the Governor of Puerto Rico. The photo op was an
dents a low-cost, high-impact international experi-
ence along with a chance to earn experiential learning
credit. From the moment they apply to the program,
students learn about goal setting and long-range
planning; they participate in reflection activities and
begin to build relationships with fellow participants.
At pre-departure orientation they learn best practic-
es for safety and good group dynamics, and final-
ly everyone is ready and eager to represent Middle
Georgia State University on an international stage.
Our students took every advantage of the oppor-
tunities afforded them and exhausted themselves in
the process, but woke daily (and on time) to jump-
start the next day prepared, open-minded, and en-
thusiastic. In Altamira, Dominican Republic, students
volunteered at Chocal, a chocolate cooperative run
by local women. They took part in every step of the
chocolate-making process, from planting seeds and
sorting cacao beans to molding individual bonbons
and packaging cocoa powder. At the next stop, St.
8 mga.edu | finding greatness
Thomas, USVI, the students made new four-legged
friends as they volunteered at the largest Humane
Society in the Caribbean. Dogs got baths and walks,
chew toys were crafted, a kennel was repainted, and
those who were not fans of fur reorganized a clos-
et full of donated blankets and pet carriers. The fol-
lowing day, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, students volun-
teered at Casa de Niños Manuel Fernández Juncos,
a home for boys ages 8 to 18 who have had to leave
their homes due to abuse or neglect. The group left
the facility even more spruced up than they found it
after hours spent raking leaves, patching walls, wash-
ing windows, and mopping floors. Later that day,
while on the way to visit the Castillo San Cristóbal,
several of our students had the pleasure of meeting
unanticipated highlight; as unexpected as the dozens
of iguanas we encountered over the week.
The final stop in Grand Turk was devoted to more
traditional cruise-ship excursions like ziplining and
snorkeling. These adventure activities became yet an-
other way to get out of one’s comfort zone, bond with
fellow participants, and enjoy a unique experience.
Students’ reactions to the program as a whole
emphasized the personal, intercultural, and academic
benefits of international experiences:
•“Our group bonded and became an unstoppable
humanitarian unit!”
—Deb Bartholomew
•“I am overwhelmed from experiencing all the
different cultures.”
—Jonathan Brookins
•“The Knights Impact program will be something
I will always remember about college.”
—Morgan Middlebrooks
•“In addition to being academically enhancing,
Knights Impact has changed my heart, my mind,
my views, and my habits.”
—Abby Shirah
•“This trip has made me so proud to be a part of
MGA.”
—Jaycee Hale
•“It has been eye-opening to see for myself how
different my lifestyle is from people who live in
other countries.”
—Kasey Morris
Each in-country activity as well as the group’s
time together aboard the ship presented important
opportunities for self-discovery, exploration, and
growth. Our students were outstanding ambassadors
for Middle Georgia State University, bringing positive
attitudes even to the stressful moments that are part
of any travel experience. They returned to campus
with a new sense of gratitude, generosity, and per-
spective.