Polk State puts study abroad within reach for students

Imagine the dazzling tapestry of stars as you glamp in the Sahara Desert, the River Thames glistening under the summer sun as you stroll the ancient city of London, or wandering the cobblestone streets of an Italian village, where every corner whispers lessons in art, history, culture and self-discovery.

For many Polk State College students, these are more than daydreams — they are transformative realities made possible through the College’s Study Abroad Program.

“I had never left the state of Florida before. I had never had the opportunity to really get outside of my culture,” said graduate Anna Murawski, who traveled to Morocco with Polk State. “One moment that I would relive from my study abroad trip would be our stay in the Sahara Desert. You look up and you see the whole galaxy – all the stars. You’re kind of just in awe of what’s around you. It’s not something that I would have ever seen.

“It’s a really beautiful experience,” she reflected. “You really start to feel like a new person.”

Study abroad – or away

In sticking to the Polk State mission of ensuring access to quality, affordable higher education, the College’s study abroad program offers a variety of opportunities, including study away trips that are closer to home.

Upcoming study abroad and away trips include Mexico, England, Italy, Morocco, France, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., as well as Key Largo.

What’s important to note is that the program coordinator, as well as faculty trip leaders, are there for students throughout the process – from budgeting and fundraising, applying for a passport and prepping for travel, to navigating transportation and cultural experiences on the ground.

“Take that first step,” Coordinator Kim Simpson encouraged. “Get your passport and then start taking those steps to plan for that trip you want to do. Maybe it’s in a year, maybe it’s two to three years while you’re here at Polk State.”

Connecting with Simpson is key, as she can provide personalized assistance to students, including information on potential grants and financial aid for those who qualify.

Once registered for a trip, students are kept on track to their travel goals, with reminders of upcoming deadlines, detailed itineraries and pre-trip meetings to become acquainted with faculty leaders and traveling peers.

Faculty members take the lead

Polk State benefits from expert instructors who serve as trip leaders, ensuring student groups are provided with support, safety and educational tie-backs during their travels.

“Students are understandably hesitant, especially traveling internationally,” said Professor of Visual Arts Andrew Coombs, who led a study abroad trip to England and the Netherlands. “The great thing about a study abroad trip is that you’re going with a group – you’re going with us, and we’ve been there before. We’ve done these things. We’re there to guide you.”

Coombs and colleagues have even gone the extra mile to host fundraisers for students to more easily afford study abroad expenses. Paired with meticulous planning and itinerary building, “we’re able to get a lot for the money that the students put in,” Coombs explained, emphasizing the return on investment of studying abroad with Polk State.

The England and Netherlands trip included tours of London and Amsterdam, with highlights such as the British Museum, Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Piccadilly Circus, Anne Frank House, Museumplein, Van Gogh Museum and a day trip out to the Dutch countryside.

And students are not only tourists while they study abroad; the England trip scheduled for March 2026, for example, will put students face-to-face with the archaeologist who uncovered Britain’s first settlement and allow them to earn a course credit in British Mythology of the Middle Ages.

“You gain international experience,” Simpson said. “That is something that employers are looking for when you apply for a job. It also looks great on your resume if you transfer to a university.”

From classrooms to across the globe

For students like Education major Jennifer Ruiz, studying abroad opens minds to possibilities within their education and careers. Ruiz traveled to Italy, where she observed firsthand the development of different methods of teaching.

“I was shocked – I couldn’t believe I was in a whole different country,” Ruiz reflected. “This experience opened my mind up to having an open mind in the classroom and bringing different types of materials into my own classroom for a modern approach.”

The Early Childhood Education Program visited Venice, Florence, Rome and Bologna, including the origins of prominent curriculum approaches such as Reggio Emilia and Montessori.

Debra Hazelwood, Coordinator for the Early Childhood Education Program, elaborated on the benefits of being immersed in different cultures and curricula.

“It helps [students] to expand their horizons,” she said. “They get to see another culture and how children are valued in that culture. It felt like it was something that will go with them throughout their careers.”

Getting started

Several info sessions are coming up for a variety of study abroad opportunities, as well as deadlines to register for trips taking place in 2026: October 15 for England, November 1 for Mexico and December 1 for Italy and Morocco.

Students are highly encouraged to contact Coordinator Simpson at ksimpson@polk.edu and can visit polk.edu/institute-for-global-initiatives/study-abroad for more information.

“I met so many people and learned so much. Studying abroad with Polk State really showed me how to take leadership. It showed me how to work with people,” Murawski shared. “The faculty and staff were amazing, and they made sure that if there were any questions, they were answered. They made it very smooth.

“I don’t think I will ever forget the experiences that I had studying abroad with Polk State,” she exclaimed.