Food for Thought: Italy Trip Opens Eyes of Midland Students to New Cultures, Cuisines
There can be more to a college experience than what takes place on campus. That’s what Steph Strobel discovered earlier this spring.
Strobel, a senior Sport Management major, was one of 19 Midland University students who traveled to Sicily, an Italian region, in May as part of the Dr. Leo H. Kirchhoff Study Away Program.
“When my college experience is over, I’m going to look back on this trip as one of my greatest highlights,” Strobel said. “I would do this trip 100 times over again, and I would tell any student that a trip like this will make a huge difference in your perspective going forward.”
Nick Schreck, Dean for the Dunklau School of Business and Nikki Kendall, Human Performance adjunct professor, were the faculty instructors for the trip. Students received three credit hours for the coursework in the spring as part of Schreck’s Business and Culture class and Kendall’s Experiential Nutrition course, then got to see everything in action during the visit to Sicily.
Students did research leading up to the trip through their classes. They also kept journals throughout the journey and compiled a final paper that included things they saw and learned, but also provided feedback to professors about what they liked, or might not have liked, about the trip.
Schreck was part of a Study Away group that ventured to Ireland in May 2023. Seeing students get out of the country and their comfort zones inspires him to travel.
“I like being a part of experiences that students want to do but wouldn’t normally do by themselves,” he said. “You get to see the other side of students on these trips. You have students who might not normally speak up in class, but you see them open up. Some of these were students I’ve had in class for a couple of years, but you are able to connect with them in a more meaningful way. For me, that’s the best part of these trips.”
The group spent the majority of its time near Modica, a town surrounded by several suburbs and rural regions.
During their eight-day stay, students had the opportunity to learn about new cultures, business approaches, and—most exciting of all—food.
“When we were planning this trip, Nikki found a group in Italy (WhereInSicily) that does cooking tours and cooking classes,” Schreck said. “Food is a big part of Italian culture and is a great way for students to learn more about the history and the culture of Italy.
“We ate a lot of foods that wouldn’t be common foods you would eat around here. They might not have liked every new food they tried, but they were willing to try new things, and it was a great moment to see all of that happening.”
One of those cuisine experiences involved a trip to a chocolate factory. “That was one of my favorite places because we got to see the process of how chocolate is made from start to finish, but also learned from a business standpoint how to market those products,” Strobel said. “We also got to visit a cheese farm and vineyards, and it was really cool to see all the different things they grow around the area.”
Midland University promotes student involvement across campus through extracurricular activities like arts, athletics, or student organizations. Beyond those opportunities, traveling is an exciting way for students to branch out and learn more about themselves and the people and places around them.
“Our goal is to help students grow into who they are meant to be,” Schreck said. “Traveling, meeting new people, and visiting new places are great ways to help them grow and become the best version of themselves.”
The trip has encouraged Strobel to want to travel more, and she would recommend the experience to any student interested in seeing more parts of the world.
“Going to different places and experiencing different cultures has helped me grow as a person and made me realize the world is a lot bigger than just myself,” she said. “Learning about the world abroad is so valuable, and it was a great way to build a stronger connection with both classmates and professors.”
Midland has two Study Away trips planned for 2025. A group will be heading to Boston from May 11-18, and later in the summer, a trip to Tanzania is planned from July 27-August 10. Spots are limited, so early registration is encouraged.
