Since last fall, more than 200 Eastern students have studied abroad, and with the upcoming Study Abroad Fair, the program organizers are hoping to beat that number for this academic year.

The fair, which will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday in the University Ballroom in the Martin Luther King, Jr. University Union, will give students the opportunity to explore different study abroad programs and the details of the program.

Kelly Holland, the interim director of study abroad, said the fall fair is usually the busiest and most exciting for students, as it gives them the opportunity to talk with other students who have just returned from studying abroad during the summer.

“The students who have been to the different countries can really give new students a perspective of what life is like in the different countries,” Holland said.

With an Oct. 4 application deadline for students interested in participating during the upcoming winter and spring sessions, Holland said she encourages everyone interested to go to the fair to see what study abroad has to offer.

“Fairs are held to bring international partners to campus, to bring faculty into one location and to bring students together so they can walk around and see what programs there are out there,” Holland said.

Holland added a big benefit to the fair is it is a more relaxed setting where students can collect more information about a program.

“The fair is a little bit more fun and informal where students can talk to a lot of people at once,” Holland said.

Last fall, around 300 students attended the fair, and through study abroad programs over the past year, Eastern students earned an average of seven credits per trip with an average GPA of 3.14 while abroad.

Carlos Amaya, a Spanish professor, said his annual trips help him teach his students about different cultures and how to acclimate to different lifestyles. This spring break, he will take a small group to Guatemala for 10 days.

“The best way to learn about other cultures is to go there,” Amaya said. “Through studying abroad, students become more open-minded to different cultures.”

Amaya has been involved with different trips through Eastern for more than 10 years, and he said he encourages all of his students to consider it.

“(The Guatemala trip) is a great trip for someone who has never been outside of the United States,” Amaya said. “We (faculty members) take you to guided places, then you can come back and be prepared for your own trip in the future.”

Study abroad coordinator Evan Lohmann said students often worry about not being able to afford a program, but money is available for students.

“There are always scholarships,” Lohmann said. “Not only through our office, but there are also campus endowments that students can apply for in addition to local financial aid. There are also national scholarships; there is an incredible amount of money out there to be had for studying abroad.”

Different types of programs at Eastern provide many unique opportunities for students who think they do not have the time to study abroad, he added.

“A typical program used to be during spring semester of a student’s junior year,” Holland said. “Now, at Eastern, short-term projects like spring break are becoming very attractive to a student who is heavily booked during the fall and spring before they intern somewhere.”

Lohmann said if any student is unsure about whether or not to study abroad, the benefits are great.

“I’ve traveled to different locations and in some of those locations, I get asked why there aren’t more Americans that travel abroad,” Lohmann said. “I want to make sure that I am doing my part to educate students about the different study abroad possibilities and the ability to earn credit toward graduation.”

He also said on top of the cultural education studying aboard offers, when a student returns home, the experience will help in future endeavors.

“Studying abroad greatly helps students further their knowledge of the world around them,” Lohmann said. “It also lends itself to professional development, adaptability when trying to find a new job and the education itself of being in a different country and learning about its culture. Research shows that students who study abroad come back wanting to pursue a master’s degree and further their education. It really opens up your mind.”

Jack Cruikshank can be reached at 581-2812 at jdcruikshank@eiu.edu.