Two from Classics selected for studies in Rome

Two Grand Valley students have been selected to participate in the Spring 2014 term at the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies in Rome. The highly competitive program is administered by Duke University. Both students will receive a substantial five-figure scholarship from ICCS to support their studies.

When Chani Jones was looking for study abroad opportunities in the Classics, she focused on programs that offered an advanced level of instruction in Greek and Latin, so that she could remain on progress toward completing her degree in spring 2015. She found both at ICCS.

Jones, from Battle Creek, is also a past recipient of a CAMWS Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Classics. While at Grand Valley, she has combined her love of Classics with her interests in art history, museum curating and writing. She encourages other students to follow their interests when choosing their studies and pursuing opportunities such as ICCS, no matter how daunting they may seem.

Jared Groth, a senior from Milford, first became interested in the Classics during a high school advance placement literature class where he encountered many Latin phrases. That led to an interest in Classical languages. At Grand Valley he has pursued a variety of interests with a double major in Classics and Anthropology, with a minor in Archaeology. He also received the Classics Department Award For Excellence this year at Grand Valley. For his studies at ICCS he selected Ancient Rome Topography and History, Advanced Greek & Latin, and Basic Italian.

Charles Pazdernik, chair of Grand Valley’s Department of Classics said this isn’t the first time that Grand Valley has had more than one Classics student studying abroad in Rome at the same time, but it is the first time that two students are participating in ICCS at the same time. “I think it speaks to the high standard of preparation each of them demonstrated,” he said.