First-Year Semester Abroad offers an experiential learning opportunity to incoming first-year students who wish to internationalize their college career right from the start. FYSA participants begin their undergraduate studies at Georgia Tech in a special, late summer session in Atlanta. Then, they go abroad for their first fall semester, at GT Europe or in Oxford, England. When they return to Atlanta in Spring, they have the opportunity to live in a globally-focused Learning Community as they integrate into campus life.

In early July, Elizabeth Reese, Program and Operations Manager for FYSA, and her team of four former FYSA students helped the FYSA 2024 students settle into Folk Hall and start the first part of the program, which offers three credits. At the welcome lunch, all 95 students were warmly welcomed by President Ángel Cabrera, Vice Provost for International Initiatives Bernard Kippelen, and Buzz! After FASET sessions and tours of the campus, FYSA students started their GT 1000 and APPH classes.

Elizabeth Reese and Ashlee Toomey-Flinn were lead instructors and were ably assisted by Jacquee Williams, Barbara Howard, Andrew McGraw, and Heidi Fiedler. Students also had the chance to get to know their faculty directors and assistant directors as well as interact with local diplomats from the United Kingdom, Ireland, and France.

Dr. Teresa Snow taught APPH 1040: Scientific Foundations of Health for the third consecutive summer. FYSA students had the opportunity to engage in service-learning projects with the Atlanta Community Food Bank and Trees Atlanta. Students helped prepare 7,675 meals and cleaned outdoor areas on the Atlanta Beltline. When Elizabeth Reese delivered her words of appreciation at the Bon Voyage event, Dr. Snow received a standing ovation from the students—a testament to her dedication and excellent teaching.

Co-curricular and intercultural learning, which is central to the FYSA mission, begins with Global@Home through opportunities like the visit to the High Museum and the Civil Rights Bike Tour. Special thanks go to Brynn Barineau, International Special Programs Advisor, for her vision and planning of these activities.

The three-week Global@Home portion of FYSA wrapped up on August 1 with a convocation speech by Provost Steve McLaughlin and a pep talk from Rat Cap Parent, Henry Sapough.

The students are now off to Oxford, England and Metz, France to spend Fall Semester abroad.

Follow FYSA 2024 adventures on Instagram: @GTFYSA.