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Trip to Portugal provided SVC students and alumni with global perspective

Trip to Portugal provided SVC students and alumni with global perspective

by Public Relations | May 28, 2024

LATROBE, PA – A group of Saint Vincent College students, alumni and faculty toured Portugal last March on a spring break trip organized by the Alex G. McKenna School of Business, Economics and Government.The group from Saint Vincent’s McKenna School at a tour stop in Fatima, Portugal

“It is so important for students to see the world,” said Dr. Michael Urick, C’04, dean of the McKenna School. “It helps them to experience other cultures and gets them to step out of their comfort zones. Working with people from around the world and from other cultures is important for every discipline within the McKenna School.”

The trip was open to all SVC students and alumni. Over the first week of March, the group spent five days in Lisbon and two days in Fatima. Tour stops included St. Jerome’s Monastery, the historical Alfama district, Sintra Natural Park, the Pena National Palace and a winery in Lisbon.

“Fatima was really impactful,” Urick said. “The beach at Nazareth was beautiful. Climbing the castle wall of the medieval city of Obidos was exhilarating.”

It wasn’t all about sightseeing, as the trip also had an educational facet. The group toured the Lisbon office of SAP, a German-based company that produces business operations software used and taught in the McKenna School. The group also met with faculty and students at Católica Lisbon School of Business and Economics, a globally recognized Catholic university that focuses on many of the same disciplines taught in the McKenna School.

The SVC group was led by Urick and Mr. Robert Markley Jr., instructor of business administration. “Portugal was the ninth trip I’ve been on [with McKenna students],” Mr. Markley said.

Students and alumni who went on the trip were Diana Mosten, C 25, an international business major from Harrisburg; Erin Brody, C 25, a theology major from Homestead; Madalyn Smith, C 26, a business management major from Hollidaysburg; Margaret Edwards, C’24, a business management major from North Huntington; Evan Rega, C’24, a business management major from Finleyville; Taylor Hochard, C’24, a finance major from Latrobe; Aubrey Marquis, C’19, from Latrobe; Louis Tate, C’18, from Clymer; Cassidy Rega, C 27, a nursing major from Finleyville; Joe Valenty, C’24, an economics major from Carnegie; and Ethan Dunsey, C 25, a business major from Pittsburgh.

The McKenna School has sponsored a spring break trip for several years, but this was its first excursion to Portugal. McKenna’s 2021 outing was scheduled to go to Portugal, but the trip was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Two locations in Europe are being considered for the McKenna School’s 2025 spring break trip. The destination will be revealed this fall.

 

 

PHOTO: The group from Saint Vincent’s McKenna School at a tour stop in Fatima, Portugal

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