This program began in 2007 with then �㽶��Ƶ Dean and Irish literature specialist, Dr. Richard Lloyd. Lloyd had formed a relationship with Grammy-winning musician Davy Spillane, who had performed at �㽶��Ƶ, and Spillane agreed to be available to the Fellows throughout the month as a resource when needed.

Lloyd enlisted the help of history professor Dr. Rob Babcock, who ultimately took over the program when Lloyd became president of another university.

“As director, I oversee all of the information sessions for faculty and students, I advise (and revise) student applications, I chair the committee that accepts the finalists and I teach the Irish history course that puts all of the Fellows in the same room before they leave,” Babcock said. “I also make the flight arrangements, work with Davy Spillane about securing housing and make arrangements for the three days in Dublin that the Fellows receive.”

In addition, Babcock travels to Ireland with the students to get them acquainted to life in the country. He stays for a couple days then flies back to the United States where he remains available to the students via email.

This year, Kirsten Gilliland, an education major from Ainsworth, Nebraska; Kelly Kruse, a broadcasting major from Colorado Springs, Colorado; Hannah Morine, a business administration major from Blair, Nebraska; Emilie Barnes, an English major from Omaha, Nebraska; and Dakota Ghegan, a music major from Omaha, Nebraska, were chosen for the program. They left for Ireland on the morning of October 5 and flew from Omaha, Nebraska, to Newark, New Jersey, and on to Shannon, Ireland. The two flights totaled about nine hours, and the students arrived in Ireland Thursday morning.

Acceptance into the Irish Fellows Program is competitive. Students applying propose a research project to explore in Ireland matching their interests and work with a faculty sponsor of their choosing to prepare for and complete their projects.

My project involved two weeks shadowing at the “Clare Champion.” I worked for my local newspaper this summer, so my research will compare the two print journalism worlds.

For Kruse’s project, she conducted research to learn how news is consumed in Ireland. She also captured video and conducted interviews to create news stories to air on �㽶��Ƶ’s news program, Bronco News Now and is in the process of creating a promotional video for the Irish Fellows Program.

Morine’s project analyzes “the different tourist attractions around Ireland, each site’s impact on the economy and how tourism as a whole industry plays a role in the economy of Ireland.”

Barnes’ project involved two weeks of job-shadowing under Jessie Lendennie at Salmon Poetry in Ennistymon.

Unlike the others, Ghegan conducted two separate projects: one for Irish Fellows and a second for an independent research course. As a Fellow, she studied the history of the Irish flute and whistle and researched the history of Irish music, specifically the harp, fiddle and uilleann pipes independently.

Participation in the Irish Fellows Program is dependent on professors giving permission for those selected to miss class in October. However, Fellows still complete that month’s coursework, often submitting assignments online to meet deadlines back home (which is six hours earlier). Students also take every opportunity to experience Ireland from a tourist perspective, visiting popular tourist destinations across the country.

“My experience in Ireland has been simply amazing. From the atmosphere, the people, the surfing, the big cities and small towns, I couldn’t have picked a better place to study abroad. There simply isn’t an aspect of Irish culture I don’t like,” Morine said.

Babcock was skeptical of the program initially, “especially negotiating the month’s absence from the classroom,” but over the years has seen its benefit for both his students and himself.

“They have learned so much. About Ireland, of course, and about their discipline, but also about themselves, having to live on their own and make responsible decisions in a foreign country for a month. And they return to the States with original, professional work-product,” Babcock said. “I have had an extremely rewarding time introducing students from a variety of disciplines to Ireland and to Clare. I have also gotten to know North Clare on a level that I never would have been able to had I not agreed to oversee this program, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity.”

Babcock has study abroad experience himself. As a student, he spent a semester at Trinity College in Carmarthen, Wales and he urges his students to pursue similar experiences.

This year’s Irish Fellows did just that. Barnes looks at study abroad programs as an opportunity to not only learn about your own culture through the eyes of another, but to use that experience as a way to change the world.

“I think the Irish Fellows program is an incredible opportunity that I wish could be afforded to more students,” Barnes said. “At first turning every outlet on and off was an annoyance, but after adjusting to the change, we’ve now come to realize just how wasteful the U.S. is with its natural resources. …Think of all the changes that could come to the U.S. if we had more students studying abroad to return home inspired to make it a better place.”

After returning to Nebraska, the Fellows began writing up their research with assistance from their sponsors and will present their findings at Academic Showcase day April 25, 2017.

Although this year’s Irish Fellows experience is officially over, Ireland, and particularly County Clare, will hold a special place in their hearts and their memories for years to come.

“My experience here has been so much more than I could have ever anticipated. I have learned so much about my project and about Irish history in general, but I have also had the opportunity to experience Ireland in a way that I never would have otherwise,” Ghegan said. “Our motto for this trip is “work hard, play hard” and that certainly sums up my experience.”

By Kirsten Gilliand, a sophomore from Ainsworth, Nebraska, majoring in education.

“Once we were settled, we got to walk around Lahinch for a bit, checking out the town, finding places like the post office, the in-town grocery store, pubs, restaurants and the ATM. We drank tea at a café called Randaddy’s. Then we made our way to Cornerstone for dinner,” �㽶��Ƶ senior Amanda Miller wrote in her blog about her first day in Ireland as part of the Irish Fellows Program.

Miller, a journalism major from Woodland Park, Colorado, is one of six �㽶��Ƶ students spending a month in Ireland. Each student designs research projects in specific interest areas that they focus on during the month. One of Miller’s interests is photography.

“Capturing moments and stories give me a sense of satisfaction that I’ve never really known before,” she said.

Her main project while in Ireland is to take photographs of rescue boat volunteers within the County Clare area. “I want to show what these people do as part of their job on the boats, what they do within the community, how they are leaders, how they transform others’ lives, how they interact with their families and more. I want to tell their story,” she said.

While there, she’s also blogging about daily life and the sights she and her housemates experience.

Follow along on their journey in words and photos on the HC Media Online blogs page and through Miller’s personal blog, pathbeforeme.

Gregory Puckett, a senior from Lincoln, Nebraska, is finding out this month as part of the �㽶��Ƶ Irish Fellows Program.

He’s one of several students taking part in the program, which includes spending a month in Ireland conducting research or exploring issues. The group is based in County Clare, living in the small town of Lahinch, which is situated on the west coast of the island. Puckett’s work involves sound, and along the way he’s captured everything from seaside to at Liscannor Bay to the Irish and .

Just what does a sound like during a football match? Or the whistling down a chimney? Or in the morning? Or the of St. Patrick’s Cathedral?

Puckett has captured all these sounds — and more — plus some photos and accompanying text on his blog: .

Recognizing she needs off-campus experience, too, Kit arranged a series of three internships. She’s completed the first two – with Cornhusker Press in Hastings, Neb., during January Term 2012 and with in Kansas City, Mo., over Summer 2013. Currently, she’s completing the third internship – with  in Lahinch, County Clare, Ireland – during the Fall 2013 semester.

Kit is one of several �㽶��Ƶ students who competed to serve as an Irish Fellow. With guidance from professors, the students design a research project they’ll implement on their own in a foreign country. To succeed in this endeavor requires vision, responsibility, creativity and perserverance.

Follow Kit’s adventures in Ireland and those of the other �㽶��Ƶ Irish Fellows online at .

“The years that followed opened my eyes to the value of a good education and the need for me to push myself harder to achieve the goals I had in mind,” he said. “I wanted more out of life, and I knew that the types of careers I would be interested in required higher degrees.”

At �㽶��Ƶ, Jon found the quieter environment, great academic programs and Christian affiliation he sought – and he thrived! 

He connected with his professors, secured a fellowship to conduct research in Ireland, participated in the choir, represented other nontraditional students in the Student Senate and was recognized for his campus leadership when he was named to the college’s Who’s Who list as a senior in 2013.

“The opportunities for nontraditional students to excel at �㽶��Ƶ are manifold,” said the History Major who is now a graduate student at University College Cork in Cork, Ireland.

“I know firsthand that the transition isn’t easy,” said Jon. “It can be scary, lonely and overwhelming. Yet, �㽶��Ƶ is a great school, its faculty is amazing and there are many opportunities here for growth, learning and fun. If you invest yourself it will pay dividends, and I have no doubt you will realize your fullest potential.”

One story Jon tells outlines perfectly his experience at Hastings:

“When I was working on my senior thesis in Fall 2012, I had just come back from doing research in Ireland, was working 60+ hours a week, working on grad school applications, and was basically overwhelmed.  One day, I sat in McCormick Hall with my head in my hands.  I was in abject misery, and what did Dr. Rob Babcock, Professor of History, do?  He came over, put his hand on my shoulder and calmed me down. We worked out a plan of action for how he’d help me get through the rest of the semester.  Every day for the remainder of the year he would cook me dinner after work and help me work through things a bit at a time.  I would not have survived without his gracious help. That’s only one story of many, and one amazing professor of many.”