Several members of Leadership Southwestern are preparing for their service learning trip to Europe May 17-28.

The trip will include stops in Barcelona, Spain; Venice, Italy; and Athens and Poros, Greece.  Leadership Southwestern will partner with a Rotary club in Spain to do painting at a children’s shelter as well as conduct a basketball tournament.  The group also plans on working with refugee populations and doing manual labor at an international school in Athens and beach cleanup in Poros.

“An important component of the Leadership service learning curriculum includes service learning travel,” says Lindsay Wilke, assistant director of Leadership Southwestern.  “The Leadership program is designed to give students opportunities to serve outside of the Winfield community in order to expand their worldviews and enhance learning on what it means to be a leader in a global society.  Through service learning trips, students have a chance to explore new places, meet new people, and challenge their beliefs about how the world operates.  They learn and grow as leaders by putting their leadership skills into action.”

Students participating include: Andrew Topham, Peabody; Caitlin McCurdy, Overland Park; Denae Webber, Joshua Sapp, and Lacey Hibbs, Wellington; Dylan Moore, Ottawa; Elizabeth Macy, Belle Plaine; Gage Cranmer, Fredonia; Erin Buster, Kyle Luttgeharm, and Scott Rethorst, Wichita; Kayley Rodriguez, Salina; Hunter Rockhill, Derby; Lashae Bacon, Osawatomie; Chastity Osen, Hannah Podschun, Julie Wilke, Kaydee Johnson, and Taggart Wall, Winfield; Sally McGuire, Denton, Texas; and Samantha Gillis, Fort Collins, Colo.