NETC in Educational Travel News
|
NETC selects two winners for 2010 Educational Travel Scholarships - November 2, 2009 |
|
NETC Joins USTOA & Participates in $1 Million Travelers Assistance Program - August 25, 2009 |
|
Congratulations to the Winners of NETC's "Neil Travels the World" Photo & Video Contest - August 17, 2009 |
|
NETC announces the winners of our Educational Tour Video Contest - July 17, 2009 |
|
NETC makes Educational Tours Possible for Students Whose Travel Plans were Jeopardized - June 1, 2009 |
|
NETC announces $1,000 Travel Scholarship winners - May 28, 2009 |
|
Memorial scholarship honors remarkable young life, inspires passion for educational travel in high school students - May 12, 2009 |
|
In today's ever-changing world, international educational travel is a vital experience for students - March 2, 2009 |
NETC selects two winners for 2010 Educational Travel Scholarships
Hillary McDaniel (below) of Prattville High School in Alabama won a full Educational Travel Scholarship for her entry in the Visual Arts category. This task asked students to create a tourism campaign for a destination NETC travels to. Hillary promoted NETC and France with her campaign, "LEAP! into France with NETC".
Aviva Meyers (below) from Thurston Middle School in California, designed a new LEAP! activity in which students "make an Aztec clay animal flute (pdf)" (pictured below). Aviva entered in the Creative Writing category, which required students to design an activity that incorporated local flavor, was interactive, inclusive and consistent with NETC's approach to experiential learning. The Laguna Beach Independent wrote a feature on Aviva that you can read here.
Both students will travel in 2010 with their peers. Hillary will be traveling on NETC's "Paris, Provence and the Riviera" educational tour; Aviva will be traveling to France on a customized itinerary designed by her group leader.
Back to top of page
NETC Joins USTOA & Participates in $1 Million Travelers Assistance Program
NETC has recently joined the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA).
"We're very pleased to welcome NETC as our newest member," states USTOA President Bob Whitley. "The company's membership in USTOA exemplifies how the student travel market has emerged as a major player in both the domestic and international travel market," adds Whitley.
NETC, as an Active Member of USTOA, is required to post $1 Million with USTOA to be used to reimburse, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the USTOA Travelers Assistance Program, the advance payments of NETC customers in the unlikely event of NETC's bankruptcy, insolvency or cessation of business. Further, you should understand that the $1 Million posted by NETC may be sufficient to provide only a partial recovery of the advance payments received by NETC. Complete details of the USTOA Travelers Assistance Program may be obtained by writing to USTOA at 275 Madison Avenue, Suite 2014, New York, New York 10016, or by email to information@ustoa.com or by visiting their website at www.USTOA.com.
Back to top of page
Congratulations to the Winners of NETC's "Neil Travels the World" Photo & Video Contest
NETC participants traveling abroad this summer had the opportunity to travel with Neil E. Traveler, NETC's well-traveled mascot. Groups who traveled with Neil participated in the "Neil Travels the World" Photo & Video contest. After an overwhelming number of photo uploads on Neil's Facebook page and video uploads to NETC's YouTube page, two winners have been chosen in each category.
Photo: Lindsey Foust of TN for her photo captioned, "Look Neil".
Video: Marilu Grismer of CA for her video talk show featuring Neil E. Traveler as the host.
Back to top of page
NETC announces the winners of our Educational Tour Video Contest.
Congratulations to:
Benjamin Dowden (pictured) of California who won a $500 Best Buy gift card for his video submission capturing the highlights of his school's educational tour to France and Spain,
and...
Lydia Moore of Massachusetts who won a $250 Best Buy gift card for her colorful and informational video of her school's educational tour to Mexico.
Back to top of page
NETC makes Educational Tours Possible for Students Whose Travel Plans were Jeopardized
Back to top of page
NETC announces $1,000 Travel Scholarship winners
Back to top of page
Memorial scholarship honors remarkable young life, inspires passion for educational travel in high school students
May 12, 2009, San Jose, CA-
From an early age, travel was a large part of Allison Lawrence's life. At age eight, Allison took a family vacation to Paris. Joe and Ruth Lawrence recall exploring the Louvre with their daughter, "After five hours Allison still wasn't ready to leave." Allison's passion for travel, language and learning began. It was an easy choice for Allison to study French during high school, following in her sister Leslie's footsteps.
NETC educational tour continues to inspire. In 2002 Allison traveled to France and Spain on an NETC Educational Tour arranged by Notre Dame High School French teacher Patricia Kussman and Principal Mary Beth Riley. Madame Kussman chose NETC for their hands-on approach to student tours, one she employs in class. With NETC, students studied French art from a Parisian artist's point of view, cooked authentic Spanish meals, and learned to dance the Flamenco. Elizabeth Obreza Hurst remembers, "sitting at a cafe, eating a croque-monsieur and watching people go by." She stuck close to Allison, "the perfect travel companion, at ease with the language and travel." Following the tour, Madame Kussman's French III honors students, including Allison and Elizabeth, participated in an enlightening art project. Students opened an imaginary art museum, deciding which artists and what kind of art their museum would represent. Some students could present insight gained on the NETC tour, as well as conduct independent research, demonstrating their knowledge about art.
Allison used her advanced knowledge of the French language at California State University, Chico. Allison began a double major in French and Biology. Her studies were put on hold when she was diagnosed with a synovial sarcoma, a rare form of cancer, and had to undergo treatment. However, Allison demonstrated her passion for French by regularly consulting Madame Kussman to maintain her language skills. "I have a vision of her, bald and beautiful. She said, 'don't worry I'm going to France.'" Allison Lawrence passed away in May 2007, surrounded by her family.
Allison Lawrence Travel Scholarship created to inspire future student travelers. After losing Allison, the Lawrence Family received overwhelming support from the community. Donations in Allison's name poured in and the Allison Lawrence Travel Scholarship was created to honor Allison's love of travel. The scholarship provides one Notre Dame High School student the opportunity to travel abroad to France on an NETC Educational Tour. It is presented to a student who possesses Allison's passion for French, desire for travel and an overall thirst for knowledge. Student applicants must write an essay, reviewed by Ruth Lawrence, Elizabeth Obreza Hurst and a committee at Notre Dame High School. Collectively they select a scholarship recipient.
Scholarship recipient chosen for 2010 educational tour. Nicole Inamine has been chosen as the Allison Lawrence Travel Scholarship recipient for Notre Dame's 2010 NETC tour. Nicole Inamine's winning essay states, "Not only do I want to enjoy my trip, but I want to experience the country's people, culture and history from every angle possible, by delving into their communities and daily lives." Elizabeth Obreza Hurst believes Inamine was a good choice as the scholarship recipient. Speaking from her own personal experience, "doing an NETC program and being so cultural, helps you grow and mature."
Allison Lawrence inspires students for years to come. Mary Beth Riley and Patricia Kussman swear to continue the scholarship "as long as they can conjugate French verbs." Ruth Lawrence says many others have expressed interest in contributing to the scholarship fund. Elizabeth Obreza Hurst declares, "The trip is a memory that has stayed with me for seven years and will stay with me for 77 years." Allison Lawrence will continue to influence future Francophiles for years to come.
Back to top of page
In today's ever-changing world, international educational travel is a vital experience for students
March 2, 2009, Boston -
Educational Travel enhances the lives of children in developing countries. Recent publicity surrounding "Slumdog Millionaire" has brought to light the increasing needs of children living in poor conditions in the developing world. NETC, National Educational Travel Council, changes the lives of American students through experiential educational tours. Through student travel, NETC is also able to facilitate positive changes in the lives of children in developing countries.
NETC introduces American students to diverse cultures, allowing them to utilize skills learned in class, and develop new ways to think about and view the world. Several NETC Educational Tours include school visits in Peru, Costa Rica and Mexico. NETC travelers interact with local students and teachers, learning firsthand about culture, lifestyle and schools in these countries. The schools they visit are not like those back home. The hope is to open students' eyes and minds, teaching them about themselves and the world - the reality of the experience has proven even better.
NETC travelers in Chicago donate over 900 pounds of supplies to an orphanage in Cuzco, Peru. Visiting foreign schools has inspired students and teachers to donate valuable supplies to those in need. English teacher, Sherry Grutzius, and students of Morgan Park Academy in Chicago, are donating 922 pounds of supplies to Aldeas Infantiles. NETC and Mercury Shipping Company are covering the cost of the shipment, which includes notebooks, writing utensils, books, flashcards, art and craft materials, as well as musical instruments and sporting equipment. Often taken for granted in America, the supplies are more difficult for schools in developing countries to acquire. Recently this same group of students had the opportunity to travel to Peru and meet the children in this orphanage. NETC is proud to provide this opportunity to both parties.
Massachusetts school donates computers to Peruvian school. Before their NETC Educational Tour, participants traveling with group leader Kevan Sano-O'Brien of Hamilton Wenham Regional High School donated 80 care packages and three laptops to a school they'd visit in Peru. Kevan recalls her time there as "the most memorable experience in Peru." She plans to create a community outreach project, Classroom to Classroom, to coordinate donation of materials and supplies to Peruvian schools. It will involve students in grades K-12.
Despite difficult financial times, along with NETC, teachers and students consider the less fortunate, finding means to make a difference. NETC is pleased to facilitate that opportunity, proving that Educational Travel is a vital experience for students in today's ever-changing world.
