Kelsey Deters
Hello! I’m Kelsey Deters. I was born and raised in a small city on the belly button of Illinois called Quincy. My parents own a Frozen Custard Shoppe in our town, and I spent my summers growing up working there. I have one older brother who is married and they just had their first baby. She is perfect and I plan to be her favorite aunt as she grows up.
In the fall I will be starting my sophomore year at Webster University. I’m pursuing a degree in Public Relations. I was raised in the theatre, and have a great passion for it. When I graduate, I hope to work in the entertainment field so I can stay close to the theatre.
I am thrilled to be taking my first trip “across the pond.” Scotland looks incredibly beautiful and I’m so excited to spend two weeks immersing myself in the Scottish culture. This trip provides the perfect opportunity to have the out-of- classroom learning that I think is necessary for a true education.
In the fall I will be starting my sophomore year at Webster University. I’m pursuing a degree in Public Relations. I was raised in the theatre, and have a great passion for it. When I graduate, I hope to work in the entertainment field so I can stay close to the theatre.
I am thrilled to be taking my first trip “across the pond.” Scotland looks incredibly beautiful and I’m so excited to spend two weeks immersing myself in the Scottish culture. This trip provides the perfect opportunity to have the out-of- classroom learning that I think is necessary for a true education.
James Dundon
When I transferred to Webster University from Jefferson College with my Associate of Arts degree in 2011, I was still unsure what kind of career I planned to pursue. I had considered majoring in education and music at Jefferson College, however I entered Webster as an English major. I will be graduating this year with a degree in media communications with an emphasis in journalism and an English minor.
I am taking the Scotland travel journalism course because I have always had a strong interest in traveling and travel writing. I have never been overseas, and being of Irish heritage, I already had the desire to visit the United Kingdom.
I am still fleshing out the specifics of my career goals yet I have a good sense of my direction; I am interested in working as a copy editor or writer, and have also discovered an interest in working with multimedia. In my final semester at Webster, I hope to hone my journalistic skills by producing print and multimedia content while working as a copy editor for The Journal.
I am taking the Scotland travel journalism course because I have always had a strong interest in traveling and travel writing. I have never been overseas, and being of Irish heritage, I already had the desire to visit the United Kingdom.
I am still fleshing out the specifics of my career goals yet I have a good sense of my direction; I am interested in working as a copy editor or writer, and have also discovered an interest in working with multimedia. In my final semester at Webster, I hope to hone my journalistic skills by producing print and multimedia content while working as a copy editor for The Journal.
Romare Haller
I'm a senior at Webster University majoring in journalism. I graduated from Webster Groves High School, attended Meramec Community College for two years on an +A Scholarship and transferred to Southeast Missouri State. I was on the Dean’s List both semesters at SEMO until transferring to Webster University where I continue to study journalism.
I'm a huge baseball and St. Louis Cardinals fan and hope to become a sports reporter for the Cardinals or for MLB Network covering all 30 Major League teams. Growing up in St. Louis, one of the biggest baseball cities in America, I played baseball from a young age and continued until sophomore year of college.
I'm named after the American artist and writer Romare Bearden whose works included cartoons, oils, collages. At 23, I'm the oldest of three children: a brother, Ryder, and a sister Mara. This is my first trip outside the United States.
I've travelled to several places inside the U.S. including Taos, New Mexico and San Francisco. I hope to learn more about the culture of Scotland and the United Kingdom. This trip is a chance to learn about history that goes back thousands of years instead of a few hundred like in the United States.
I'm a huge baseball and St. Louis Cardinals fan and hope to become a sports reporter for the Cardinals or for MLB Network covering all 30 Major League teams. Growing up in St. Louis, one of the biggest baseball cities in America, I played baseball from a young age and continued until sophomore year of college.
I'm named after the American artist and writer Romare Bearden whose works included cartoons, oils, collages. At 23, I'm the oldest of three children: a brother, Ryder, and a sister Mara. This is my first trip outside the United States.
I've travelled to several places inside the U.S. including Taos, New Mexico and San Francisco. I hope to learn more about the culture of Scotland and the United Kingdom. This trip is a chance to learn about history that goes back thousands of years instead of a few hundred like in the United States.
Kasey Morris
My name is Kasey Morris, and I am a senior. This fall is my last semester before I graduate with a BA in Media Communications. I grew up in Chesterfield, and have only been attending Webster since spring of 2012, but I love it! I feel like I am actually getting some value out of my education now, and in that spirit, I decided that this trip to Scotland would be an invaluable experience.
While I am a Media Comm major, I have found a specific interest in video production. Linda suggested that this class would benefit from some videography, and what better event to capture than the Festival Fringe! I think that was the part that really sold me. I love festivals, and this one is the largest (of the arts variety) in the world, so I find that very enticing.
Besides that, I have never been out of the country before, so I figure my final semester of college is a great time to venture to Europe, with such an organized opportunity to hone the skills I am developing in school. It hasn’t quite hit me yet that this is really happening. I expect a life changing experience out of this trip, and I hope to come back a little wiser, and a little worldlier.
While I am a Media Comm major, I have found a specific interest in video production. Linda suggested that this class would benefit from some videography, and what better event to capture than the Festival Fringe! I think that was the part that really sold me. I love festivals, and this one is the largest (of the arts variety) in the world, so I find that very enticing.
Besides that, I have never been out of the country before, so I figure my final semester of college is a great time to venture to Europe, with such an organized opportunity to hone the skills I am developing in school. It hasn’t quite hit me yet that this is really happening. I expect a life changing experience out of this trip, and I hope to come back a little wiser, and a little worldlier.
Jake Trost
My name is Jake Trost and I am a student at Webster University in Saint Louis, Missouri. My major is Interactive Digital Media with a minor in Documentary Filmmaking. I am going on this class trip to Scotland to build not only my personality, but also my experiences in my area of study and my network of people around the world to hopefully boost my possible career opportunities.
I have a great love for Scotland even though I have next to no Scottish blood, if any, in my heritage. Being a Highland bagpiper and meeting (and getting to know) people throughout my life who are from there, or are just of Scottish descent has had a great influence on me since I was young. Aside from this, I also have an extreme love of all things Northern European, especially Scandinavia and Germany since that is my heritage. Both have had a major influence on Scottish history. This history I want to document when I am in Scotland, and learn more about.
I want to use this beautiful country to document not only the landscape and culture, but also things that show said historical influences and culture. Building a network of people while there will also help me get a better understanding and absorb more knowledge of the country in the aspect I am looking at (e.g. with certain photographs I would like to state the history behind what I am photographing). Ultimately, while doing all of these things, I hope to gain a new perspective on life and more or less find out more about myself.
I have a great love for Scotland even though I have next to no Scottish blood, if any, in my heritage. Being a Highland bagpiper and meeting (and getting to know) people throughout my life who are from there, or are just of Scottish descent has had a great influence on me since I was young. Aside from this, I also have an extreme love of all things Northern European, especially Scandinavia and Germany since that is my heritage. Both have had a major influence on Scottish history. This history I want to document when I am in Scotland, and learn more about.
I want to use this beautiful country to document not only the landscape and culture, but also things that show said historical influences and culture. Building a network of people while there will also help me get a better understanding and absorb more knowledge of the country in the aspect I am looking at (e.g. with certain photographs I would like to state the history behind what I am photographing). Ultimately, while doing all of these things, I hope to gain a new perspective on life and more or less find out more about myself.
Bobbie Watson
Hello My Name is Bobbie Watson. I am Media Literacy
Graduate Student and alumni of Webster University, I graduated with my Film
Studies degree in 2012. The focus of my career is working in documentaries, it
has been a passion of mine for several years now, ever since I was introduced
to Edward R. Murrow in a class that I had with Linda Williams. This last year I
produced and directed a documentary of my own that’s examined youths with
disabilities and there experience with the healthcare system, it name is 20 Something and Bullet. I am a native
to St.Louis and have lived here all my life.
The reason why I decided that I wanted to study abroad is for a few reasons, first and foremost going to Scotland is an opportunity of a life time. During my undergrad I had family obligations and didn't have the chance to immerse myself into another culture. Because of my strenuous school schedule doing this now in the summer is the perfect opportunity, I will be graduating in the spring so I won’t have another opportunity to study abroad. The other reason why is because of my own heritage being part Scottish, a few years ago I found out that I had Scottish and Irish roots that I was not aware of. Having the last name Watson I Knew I was English but finding out about being Scottish and Irish opened a whole new world to me.
I love having the opportunity of being submersed in Scottish Culture, the Art, Music, and overall History excites me and that is why I am going to Scotland.
The reason why I decided that I wanted to study abroad is for a few reasons, first and foremost going to Scotland is an opportunity of a life time. During my undergrad I had family obligations and didn't have the chance to immerse myself into another culture. Because of my strenuous school schedule doing this now in the summer is the perfect opportunity, I will be graduating in the spring so I won’t have another opportunity to study abroad. The other reason why is because of my own heritage being part Scottish, a few years ago I found out that I had Scottish and Irish roots that I was not aware of. Having the last name Watson I Knew I was English but finding out about being Scottish and Irish opened a whole new world to me.
I love having the opportunity of being submersed in Scottish Culture, the Art, Music, and overall History excites me and that is why I am going to Scotland.
Linda Williams
I am an academic advisor and adjunct professor in the School of Communications at Webster University. This is the third year in a row I've been lucky enough to bring students with me to Scotland for a short term Study Abroad Course. We'll spend two weeks exploring this country and share what we find in blogs. When we get back, we'll work on more in depth stories.
I'm a Scottish-American. My father was born in America to Scottish parents, and my mother was born in Scotland to Scottish parents who had immigrated to, and back from America. My mother grew up on the Isle of Arran, where we'll stay for one week. It's nickname is "Scotland in Miniature". The second week we will visit New Lanark, Edinburgh, and Glasgow.
I am a tenor drummer in Saint Louis Caledonian Pipe Band. I have a little dog named Mousse, who bosses me around.
I'm a Scottish-American. My father was born in America to Scottish parents, and my mother was born in Scotland to Scottish parents who had immigrated to, and back from America. My mother grew up on the Isle of Arran, where we'll stay for one week. It's nickname is "Scotland in Miniature". The second week we will visit New Lanark, Edinburgh, and Glasgow.
I am a tenor drummer in Saint Louis Caledonian Pipe Band. I have a little dog named Mousse, who bosses me around.