Global Studies at Pennington

I want all of our students to believe that their Pennington education prepares them to give back to the world rather than give them a leg up to get ahead in the world.” —Dr. William S. Hawkey, Head of school

Hear from our Global Studies students!

"I have developed a strong sense of empathy and interest in the communities around the world, and I have taken conscious steps to be a better global citizen because of the Global Studies program."

"Pennington helps me to grow as a person. The diverse community encouraged me to join the Global Studies program, through which I have learned to appreciate the interconnecting globe and realized my role as a global citizen."

"Global Studies is an amazing program that fundamentally changed my thinking approach toward society, especially from my own circle of comfort and knowledge. I walked out of the ‘cultural cave’ with a sharpening mind, seeing the interdependence between humans, nature, and the cities we are surrounded in, especially during the pandemic. As an international student, Global Studies exposed me to new societal phenomenons, and also helped me to cope with biases between American and Chinese cultures. I found my real passion and interest in sociology and humanities."

"I joined the Global Studies program to learn about how I can be a better contributor to our global community. From the Global Studies program, I have enjoyed learning about different cultures and the roles that they play in making our so wonderfully diverse world."

Global Studies Mission and Outcomes

The mission of the Global Studies Program at The Pennington School, through the Global Studies certificate, travel opportunities, and campus-wide initiatives, is to support and enhance our informed, active, and ethical participation in global ideas, issues, and communities, both at home and abroad.

The outcomes of the program:

Exercise agency - Make positive change in the community.
Embrace diversity - Learn about and experience the value of many cultures, of people who identify in different ways, or of those who hold differing perspectives about the world.
Explore with curiosity - Take an interest in learning about the world, new cultures, languages, and geographic places.
Express empathy - Demonstrate compassion for others' experiences.

Global Opportunities

Summer 2022 Opportunities

Summer 2022 Opportunities

The US Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and The American Field Services-USA (AFS-USA) organization connect high school students who are American citizens with US State Department-sponsored study abroad scholarships, which allow students to study abroad at a fraction of the usual cost. Some of these include the Congress-Bundenstag Youth Exchange (CBYX) opportunity to study in Germany for one year, the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) programs to study one of eight critical languages (like Arabic, Mandarin, or Russian), the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Abroad (YES Abroad) program to study for a year overseas, and Youth Ambassador summer programs, which explore culture and diplomacy for one to three weeks offered in a variety of locations. Most of these have fall 2022 deadlines, so summer is the time to prepare applications for 2023 opportunities.
The Experiment in International Living offered a FREE Digital Youth Leadership and Community Service Intercultural Exchange summer program. The Experiment’s fully funded Digital Youth Leadership and Community Service intercultural exchange program connects young people across the US with peers in the Middle East and North Africa, in countries such as Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and Yemen. Designed to help participants to be civically engaged and to lead change, this opportunity teaches high schoolers to formulate and implement service projects in their home communities. Open to 14 - 18 year olds, the eight-week program asks for a time commitment of approximately four hours each week. Upon completion, students received a certificate of Leadership & Global Issue Analysis, unique opportunities with the US Department of State, including access to special funding opportunities and projects as well as membership in US DoS’ International Alumni Network, and a $400 scholarship to attend any future program offered by The Experiment in International Living. More information here: https://www.experiment.org/digital-leadership/
Lehigh University’s Global Entrepreneurship Intensive
The Iacocca Global Entrepreneurship Intensive program is a unique, four-week summer program for high school students produced by Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The 2022 program met virtually from June 27 to July 22, 2022. The program brings together American students with international students from all regions of the world to complete entrepreneurial design challenges to solve a real-world global problem in an area of interest such as sustainability, population health, branding, or technology. Students are mentored by Lehigh faculty and global business operators, who will share real-life stories of successes and lessons learned. Students also attended additional workshops in negotiating, leadership development, and international business concepts, and enjoyed virtual cultural and social activities as well. More information is here.
The World Affairs Council of Philadelphia’s Summer Global Leadership Institute, July 11 - 15, is a program that brings together rising ninth-twelfth grade students interested in topics of international significance. This year’s topic was Global Development and International Aid, which students explored through a diverse array of expert-led workshops, discussions, and debates. For the United States and many other areas of the world, foreign aid is a key tool for supporting allies, promoting values, and advancing economic interests on the world stage, and for those countries that receive international aid, it can be a huge consideration and concern for their national economy. This weeklong program explored different approaches to international aid and development, teach students key financial literacy skills to understand core economic concepts, and delve into how aid shapes global relations and economies. While the program had an international focus, learned concepts are directly applicable to community development and financial responsibility on a local and personal level. The week concluded with a day-long field trip to Washington, DC, where students met with policymakers and key decision-makers in the global development arena.
Concordia Language Villages — virtual and in-person opportunities
For 2022, Concordia Language Villages offered in-person language camps as well as their Virtual Village online language program. All language sessions focused on understanding and engaging in conversations in fun and captivating ways. Students participated in cultural experiences and activities and projects such as artwork and cooking. Students also spent time reading and writing in their chosen language, but the primary goal was to develop confidence in speaking the language. Village sessions are available in Arabic, Chinese, Danish, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Swedish.
United Planet Internship/Volunteer Opportunity
United Planet matches students with volunteering and internship opportunities around the world, both in person and virtually. United Planet Virtual Volunteer Quests offer great opportunities for individuals to be matched with a global project to assist with daily operations and projects according to their skills and experiences, and the community's needs. Virtual Internship Quests allow interns to outline learning objectives and goals as it relates to the project work, complete mid and final reflection assignments, and work collaboratively with direct project supervisors on mid- and final internship evaluations.
Philadelphia’s The PHC Group, a consulting firm specializing in culturally sensitive public health and crisis management programs, offers paid internships for rising high school seniors.
The Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) has operated continuously since 1947, matching high-school students with summer, school-year, gap-year, and internship programs through its Global Navigator program. CIEE offers lower-cost programs through partnerships with the US State Department, and offers a wide range of Global Discovery summer camps on such topics as pop culture and anime in Japan, global entrepreneurship in Dublin, queer life and activism in Amsterdam, and leadership through outdoor education in Rabat, Morocco.
The National Student Leadership Conference has offerings all around the United States focusing on topics from international business to social impact and innovation.
The International Association for College Admission Counseling has put together a comprehensive list of programs for high school students offered at colleges and universities around the world. Many have application deadlines coming up, so visit now!
The United World Colleges run globally focused boarding schools for 16-19-year-olds, and currently occupy eighteen campuses on four continents. In addition to their school year offerings, they invite high school students to experience their campuses for summer programs on everything from sustainability to social justice to conflict resolution. Check out the options here.
Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth offers a range of residential summer programs.
The Summer Institute for the Gifted offers residential options around the United States, as well as online.
For Middle Schoolers: Penn Museum offered its Summer Anthropology Camps to 8 - 13 year olds for several sessions between June 27 and August 19. Students were able to choose from topics including building the pyramids, music around the world, and stories and superstitions – all explored through Penn Museum’s world-renowned collections. Each week featured an exciting theme with hands-on workshops, expert talks, and gallery exploration.

Latest News

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Pennington students and faculty travel to Malawi

Members of the Class of 2022 visited Malawi in June for a service trip facilitated by Director of the Applied Science Certificate Program Sue Wirsig.

New event on campus celebrates School's diverse community

The 2022 "We are Pennington" Culture Fair, a new event on campus spearheaded by Director of Global Studies Kendra Sisserson, was developed to celebrate the diverse community at Pennington.

Pennington senior and father share experiences from service work in Mozambique

On Friday, March 4, Kira O'Neil '22 and her father, Scott O'Neil P'22 '25, spoke with Global Studies students about their volunteer work in Mozambique during the summer of 2021.

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