SHERMAN, TEXAS — This January, twenty-eight Austin College students participated in a travel tour of Greece, featuring major sites and monuments of classical Greek myth and history. 

Students stayed in Athens and from there visited such places as Corinth, Argos, Sparta, Olympia, Delphi, Thermopylae, Crete, and Marathon, as well as the churches of Mystra and the spectacular hanging monasteries of Meteora. 

Some of the students who had an understanding of the classic languages were also required to make use of their study of Greek or Latin. 

Austin College’s four-week January Term, in which students take only one course, provides students opportunity for in-depth study of one subject—often outside their regular area of study.  In addition to on-campus courses in specialized areas of study, many students spend the month in career exploration through individualized study at business sites or in study trips abroad. 

This January, Austin College students could be found in Australia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Egypt, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Jamaica, Japan, Peru, Scotland, Spain, and Turkey, as well as Washington, D.C., and New York City. 

The students who participated in this exploration of Greece are listed below by hometown, along with the local high school from which they graduated and their parents’ names. 

Allen, Texas

Jessica Rana, Allen High School, daughter of Ramesh and Versha Rana; Caitlin Tabor, Allen High School, daughter of Bill and Nancy Tabor.

Austin, Texas

Gregory Myles Maher, St. Michaels Catholic Academy, son of Stephen and Susan Maher.

Bedford, Texas

Jesse Pearson, Trinity High School, daughter of Cynthia Williams of Bedford and Garry Pearson of Euless, Texas. 

Brenham, Texas

Katharine Potter, Home School Graduate, daughter of Gary and Becky Potter.

Carrollton, Texas

Rachel Escamilla, Newman Smith High School, daughter of Hector and Soila Escamilla; Sarah Khan, Newman Smith High School, daughter of Zahid and Nighat Khan; Marcus Vela, Bastrop High School, son of Delfina L. Vela.

Clarksville, Texas

Jesse Hausler, Clarksville High School, son of Mark and Terrie Hausler.

Colleyville, Texas

Emily Broker, Faith Christian School, daughter of Chris and Tammy Broker.

Dallas, Texas

Wayland E. Loomis, III, The Alexander School, son of Wayland and Suzie Loomis.

Denison, Texas

James Berry, Denison High School, son of Trena Berry and Jim Berry.

El Paso, Texas

Riddhi Patel, Coronado High School, daughter of Ranjan and Jagdish Patel.

Euless, Texas

Jesse Pearson, Trinity High School, daughter of Garry Pearson of Euless and Cynthia Williams of Bedford, Texas.

Houston, Texas

Brooke Alexander, Stratford High School, daughter of Jim and Deborah Alexander; Robert Clark, Westside High School, son of Jan and Dan Clark.

Little Elm, Texas

Beth Thompson, Little Elm High School, daughter of Gwen and Randy Thompson.

McKinney, Texas

Molly Banas, McKinney High School, daughter of Mike and Mary Banas; Taylor Willett, McKinney High School, daughter of Michael and Lisa Willett.

Muenster, Texas

Jacqueline Bauer, Southside High School, daughter of Bob and Kathy Bauer.

New Boston, Texas

Caleb Cook, Paul H. Pewitt High School, son of John and Welda Cook. 

Richardson, Texas

Elizabeth Varner, L.V. Berkner High School, daughter of William and Susan Varner.

Rosanky, Texas

Kathryn Van Norman, Saint Michaels Catholic Academy, daughter of James R. and Susan A. Van Norman.

San Antonio, Texas

Christopher Check, James Madison High School, son of Mick and Ginny Check; Jonathan M. Stout, St. Martin's Episcopal High School, son of Michael and Susan Stout.

Sherman, Texas

Christine Hosek, Sherman High School, daughter of Hervé and DeDe Hosek.

Spring, Texas

Yvette LeBlanc, Tomball High School, daughter of Fred and Cindy Le Blanc.

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Meg Gammie, Metro Christian Academy, daughter of John and Nancy Gammie.

Waco, Texas

Britain Bruner, Vanguard High School, son of Rick and Merry Bruner.

Whitewright, Texas

James Berry, Denison High School, son of Jim Berry and Trena Berry. 

Austin College is a leading national independent liberal arts college located approximately 30 minutes north of the greater Dallas metroplex in Sherman, Texas. Founded in 1849, making it the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original charter and name, the college is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA). Recognized nationally for academic excellence in the areas of international education, pre-professional training, and leadership studies, Austin College is one of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book “Colleges that Change Lives.”