The Study Abroad program at ECPI University is alive and well!  Since 2000, our students have visited more than a dozen countries, 4 of the 6 inhabitable continents and both hemispheres.  This year, in the 8^th term, the group is traveling to England and France, specifically London and Paris.

In London, among many stops, they will visit the Tower of London (built by William the Conqueror, home to Kings and Queens, and site of murders and executions), take a Jack the Ripper Tour (the serial killer from 1888 who was never caught) and have authentic fish and chips for dinner.  After a few days, they will take the Chunnel to Paris, and visit the Louvre (there will be amazement at how small the Mona Lisa really is), the Eiffel Tower (which Parisians wanted to tear down right after it was built) and take a cruise on the Seine (Napoleon requested to be buried on the banks of this historic river).

The program also offers COM205, Culture and Diversity, in coordination with the trip.  The curriculum includes the journey as part of the class.  The students go to school for two weeks, go overseas for two weeks, and return to class for the last week of the term.

The trip concentrates on the culture and diversity of the countries visited.  Culture can be defined as a group’s language, food, art, architecture, dress, dance and music.  The students observe and experience as many of those hallmarks as possible on the journey.  The students consider the trip eye-opening and always come back with a whole new appreciation of this country and its culture.  As Dr. Glenn Corillo, the Faculty Director of the Study Abroad program, often says, “Your education is not complete until you have traveled overseas and see how others live.”

The trip to Europe this fall is already closed and the Study Abroad program is looking at a journey to South America in 2013.

ECPI University’s School of Health Sciences Medical Assistant Department recently provided some vital assistance to a local employer, Colortree in Richmond, Virginia.

Colortree’s human recourses (HR) department contacted ECPI with the goal of establishing a wellness fair for employees.  The HR department wanted their employees to have this screening to allow them to choose which health care insurance would be most sufficient. This opportunity led to nearly 200 employees of Colortree receiving wellness screenings and created synergy between both ECPI University’s Schools of Health Science campuses in Richmond (Emerywood and Moorefield).

Colortree was so impressed by the professionalism of the students that they have decided to make the wellness fair an annual event. This event has also sparked Colortree’s insurance company to request that ECPI University’s Schools of Health Science Medical Assistant Department conduct wellness screens with other companies/organizations.

For most people, going to the dentist is really not a choice. While they may not enjoy the experience, they know it’s necessary. But for some, it’s just not an option. Lacking insurance, money, or both, they allow small problems to become big ones over time. Fortunately, there is a group of caring people who come to the rescue. Recently in Suffolk, Virginia, dozens of dentists, hygienists and assistants, including many from ECPI’s School of Health Sciences,Medical Careers Institute, donated their time at Dental Access Days to help provide desperately needed care to about 145 people.

With limited time for each patient, treatment was limited to cleaning, fillings and extractions, with some patients receiving flippers, which are acrylic partial dentures used to replace a few missing teeth. Aside from the pain relief and cosmetic value, these treatments were about much more than simply making people feel better. Many times, people show up in the emergency room with serious dental problems, but hospitals can do little for these patients other than giving them antibiotics and painkillers.

Dental Access Days gave nearly 150 of those under-served patients a chance to improve their quality of life. This day of service provided yet another reminder to our students that it’s not just what you get, but what you give that makes all the difference.

Last fall, eConnect introduced recent graduate Eric Richardson, who had just landed a great job at Willow Tree Apps in Charlottesville. Well, it didn’t take long for him to make his mark. Eric has just released his first Android Application, SB Nation – Sports News. With more than 300 sports blogs covering every sport, every team and every league, SB Nation says it’s the most comprehensive sports app ever developed.

In its first month on the market, the SB Nation App was downloaded more than 30,000 times and has already received an impressive 4.4 (out of 5) rating from Android Market. With more than 3 million users on the SB Nation website, the future for this app and its designer looks very promising

Eric graduated from ECPI’s Moorefield campus and credits his excellent education for giving him the skills to not only get a job, but to enjoy success so early in his career. Congratulations Eric!