One Summer, Five Continents

As Regis expands its global education program, students traveled the world during summer break to learn, to serve, and to lead.

This summer, 131 Regians took part in global service and learning trips that offered them the opportunity to engage with people and communities far from 84th Street. With the addition of new trips to Alabama, France, and China, more Regians than ever spread out across the globe this summer. Indeed, during a week in June, Regis had groups of students on five continents at once. “It’s very important for students to broaden their experiences,” said Mr. Christian Mariano ’99, Assistant Principal for Student Life. “Interacting with people halfway around the world gives them better insights into how we can improve ourselves back at home.”

Alabama, United States

This trip, organized for the first time this year, immersed students in places important to the Civil Rights movement. Students visited museums and monuments, heard lectures, and conducted service work in Montgomery, Mobile, and Selma.

Berlin, Germany

German-speaking Regians attended a two-week cultural and language exchange trip to Berlin. Students visited the Neues Palais, the Juedisches Museum, and took a tour of the city. As part of the program, students from Canisius Kolleg will visit New York next spring.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

In July, Regians spent a week working with students at Zotung Catholic Refugee Learning Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The center serves students from the Chin community whose families have fled persecution in Myanmar. The Regians on the trip were among those who have been tutoring online with the center during the school year.

Madrid, Spain

Spanish-speaking students took part in a two-week cultural and language exchange trip in Madrid. Students on the trip had the opportunity to visit the Museo del Prado, Palacio Real, and other sights. As part of the program, students from Colegio de Nuestra Senora del Recuerdo also visited New York.

Nairobi, Kenya

Six rising seniors traveled to Nairobi to visit St. Aloysius Gonzaga Secondary School, which offers Catholic education to students in Kibera, Africa’s largest slum. During the academic year these six students are among the Regians who volunteer to remotely tutor St. Aloysius students. While on the trip, Regis students also had the opportunity to take part in cultural activities.

Nanjing, China

The Ricci-Xu Young Scholars Program is a cultural leadership and exchange program that brings together students from Regis, Dominican Academy, and Nanjing Foreign Language School in China for regular conversations. As part of the program, Regians attended a two-week cultural and language immersion program in Nanjing, in collaboration with Dominican Academy and Nanjing Foreign Language School. Students toured the Classical Gardens of Suzhou, competed in dragon boat races, and took a cooking class at a culinary school, in addition to other tours and lectures.

Nogales, Arizona, United States

In July, a group of Regis students traveled to Nogales on the Arizona-Mexico border for an immersion trip hosted by the Kino Border Initiative. The students extended hospitality to migrant families and had an opportunity to learn more about their stories.

Paris, France

French-speaking students attended a two-week cultural and language exchange program in Paris. Students took a tour of Versailles, visited the Museum of the Liberation of Paris, and took part in a walking tour and scavenger hunt around the city. As part of the program, students from Lycee Saint Louis de Gonzague will visit New York later this fall.

Quito, Ecuador

This service immersion experience is a unique opportunity for students to be in communion with and serve the most vulnerable in Quito, Ecuador. This trip took place at Quito’s Fundación Familias Trabajadores, which was founded by Rev. John Halligan, SJ, and pursues a holistic approach to family development, reaching out to the poorest segment of Quito’s population.

West Virginia, United States

On this trip, students learned about the history and culture of the Appalachian region while examining issues surrounding rural poverty, sustainability, and environmental degradation through communication and volunteering with locals. Regis offered two separate trips this summer. One was in the Wheeling area through the Appalachian Institute at Wheeling University. Students took part in service surrounding food insecurity and learned about industry and the environment. On the other trip, in a more rural area of the state, students worked with the West Virginia Ministry of Advocacy and Workcamps. WVMAW is a non-profit organization that helps residents whose homes have been destroyed by natural disasters, particularly flooding.

This story appears in the Fall 2024 issue of Regis Magazine.