10th Anniversary Spring Break Trip to London a success

The Saint Francis University School of Business and Office for Study Abroad sponsored and celebrated its 10th Anniversary Spring Break trip to London from Feb. 26 - March 5. Twenty students, along with Fr. Malachi Van Tassell, T.O.R., Dr. James Logue, and Dr. Randy Frye attended the trip.

The London spring break trip was founded ten years ago by Dr. Frye, Dean of the School of Business, and was inspired by Mr. Philip Kennedy, an Accounting alumnus, former School of Business Advisory Board member, and retired Professor of Accounting from Slippery Rock University.

Approximately 210 Saint Francis students have participated in the London-based, short-term international study program since it was started.

Dr. Logue, Professor of Accounting/Finance, has participated in nine of the trips, has played the role of co-chaperone/travel guide, and has been instrumental in recruiting students for the trip. In addition to Dr. Logue’s recruitment, Dr. Frye developed and implemented a special international business management course around the trip for the students who participate. The course is entitled Mgmt. 315 The Role of Great Britain in the European Union (along with a related cross-listed graduate course bearing the same name). Never before has the course title been more relevant to the British citizens as they ponder this critical question in a special “Brexit” referendum scheduled for June 23, making the trip all the more interesting.

The 10th Anniversary Spring Break trip to London included, a record high, seven lectures related to the theme of course and other related international business topics, as well as numerous field trips and educational activities. This year’s group took a financial district walking tour with a noted local historian and author, Warren Grynberg; visited Windsor Castle and took an eerie Jack the Ripper walking tour in East London with a noted scholar on the subject, Donald Rumblelow; heard a lecture at the Bank of England and toured Lloyds of London; heard two lectures at St. Mary’s University by Professors Philip Booth (“Catholic Teaching and the European Union- Origins and Outturn”) and Christopher Hull (”United Kingdom in Europe: Case Study on Employment Law and Social Policy”); visited Paul Malloy, a fixed assets fund manager at Vanguard in the financial district and a 2006 Saint Francis University alumnus of the Economics and Finance program; and received a behind the scenes tour of the British Parliament from a former employee of a Member of Parliament. The group also attended a soccer match between Fulham v. Middlesbrough at the legendary Craven’s Cottage Stadium located at Parson’s Green.

This year the group traveling to London had the pleasure of having Fr. Malachi, T.O.R., President of Saint Francis University, participate in the 10th Anniversary Spring Break trip. The travelers included Dylan Bear, Sara Fiore -Gunnett, and Eric Horell (MBA students); Cole Bush, Traci Glass, Steve Jones, Hannah Krause, Matt Loughnane, Kyle Penney, Taylor Peruso, Dominick Ramirez, Grace Smith, Jake Spryn, Chukwuebuka Ude, Connor Wharton, and Max Wilcox (School of Business undergraduate students, including those with business-related concentrations or minors); Lindsay Wilde and Maria Figliola (School of Health Science students); and Ali Evans and Tim Shoff (School of Science).

In addition to students paying a separate travel fee for the trip, they also received generous funding from the Dr. Albert Zanzuccki Endowed Chair in Business Administration Global Assistance Scholarship program in order to offset a portion of the related travel expenses associated with the program.

This trip was a great success, and the School of Business is looking forward to the many trips to come!