Bridge Year students jet off to foreign lands

After five days on campus, the 20 students in the University's inaugural Bridge Year program jetted off to Ghana, India, Peru and Serbia for a year abroad before they join the Class of 2014 next fall.

Over the next nine months, the five groups of four students will "volunteer with local service organizations, learn a new language and immerse themselves in the local society through homestay with a local family, cultural enrichment activities and in-country travel."

The program was first introduced back in February 2008. In September 2008, President Tilghman said the program may eventually include up to 100 incoming freshmen every year. She also said the pilot program will cost between $20,000 and $25,000 per student.