MSC Champe Fitzhugh
International Honors
Leadership Seminar
Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy
The Santa Chiara Study Center
July 13 – July 31, 2015
Champe Fitzhugh Jr.
Program named for Tom’s father on his 70th birthday
Thomas Fitzhugh III ‘71
Champe Fitzhugh Jr.
• Tom was a National Merit Scholar and the MSC
President
• Currently a maritime attorney
• Adjunct faculty member at TAMU Galveston
• History buff
• Passion for international travel
Purpose of the Program
To prepare participants to make the best of
your educational odyssey

Fast-tracking students into leadership
positions in the Memorial Student Center and
other Texas A&M organizations

Teaching students the skills to succeed
academically while maintaining honors status

Understanding the opportunities available for
Undergraduate Research

Planting the seed for a Study Abroad
experience in your future
Castiglion Fiorentino/
Santa Chiara

Castiglion Fiorentino is a picturesque 11th
century walled village in Tuscany.

The center occupies a 19th century
conservatory building that has lower
sections from the Renaissance and
basement ruins dating from the Etruscan
period.

Classrooms, lounges, dining hall, and
dormitories face an inner courtyard with a
beautiful view of the Tuscan countryside.
The Study Center

Italart

Meals and accommodations at
Center

Castiglion Fiorentino: involvement
with the community itself

Excellent Italian staff under the
direction of Sharon Jones

E-mail /WiFi access – Limited
bandwidth (no photo downloads
or Skyping)
Itinerary

Designed to be flexible/long days (Rome,
especially)

Florence/Firenze (twice)

Arezzo

Assisi

Cortona

Rome

Venice/Venezia

All alternated with center activities
The Travel Itinerary

M -July 13 – Depart Houston

T -July 14 – Arrive Florence (Firenze)

W - July 15 – Center Activities/Sessions

R - July 16 – Visit local Agriturismo “Pappini”

F - July 17 – Firenze I/Lunch Arranged

Sat - July 18 – Arezzo/Center Activities

Sun - July 19 – Center Activities/Sessions

M - July 20 – Art Classes & Group Exercise

T -July 21 – Assisi/Lunch Arranged

W - July 22 – Center Activities/Sessions

R - July 23 – Firenze II/Science Museum

F - July 24 – Art Class/Center Activities
Itinerary Continued

Sat - July 25 – Rome

Sun- July 26 – Center Activities/Sessions

M - July 27 – Cortona, Center Time & Free Time

T - July 28 – Depart for Venezia

W - July 29 – Venezia: Doges Palace

R - July 30 – Venezia: St. Marks

F - July 31 – Depart for USA from Venezia
Educational Sessions
Opportunities ahead at A&M:
 MSC Student Programs

Honors (University Undergraduate Research
Scholars Program, National Scholarships)

Study Abroad

Freshman Leadership Organizations

Student Government Association

Residence Hall Association
Academics:

Study skills

Time management
Educational Sessions
Academics:

Aggie Honor Code

University Writing Center

Registration policies

Declaring/changing majors

TA/SI role

Academic relationships
Personal Health and Well Being:

Diet, exercise, and sleep

Alcohol, drugs, and sex

Stress management
Educational Sessions
Personal Health and Well Being:
 Safety
 Finances
 Student Health Center
 Student Counseling Services
Relationships:
 Teambuilding
 Networking
 Diversity
 Personal relationships
 Roommate issues
 Conflict resolution
Educational Sessions
Professionalism

Public speaking

Interview skills

Resume writing

Etiquette and professional dress

Career Center

Office of Professional School Advising

Facebook/Instagram/Twitter/YouTube
First 2 weeks at Texas A&M

Opportunities (academic and social)

Expectations (academic and social)
Safety while in Italy

Try not to stand out as Americans

Back packs

Money belts

Gypsies

Stay with group

Watch time/know the schedule
What to Pack
Packing

One checked bag (50lbs) and 1 small carry-on - See Delta Airlines page for
rules. (http://www.delta.com/traveling_checkin/baggage/)

Church clothes (long pants for guys, long skirts and covered shoulders for girls
in some churches)

Hand washable clothes (shorts and shirts)

Washcloths

Comfortable walking shoes

Camera

Medicine/contacts & glasses (prescriptions)
Communications to Home

Cell phones – check with your carrier
◦ International data plans are very expensive

Use e-mail and blog

Skype not encouraged – takes too much
bandwidth
Film and Photography

Digital Cameras work great. May
want to bring memory sticks and
extra batteries.

Take picture with people in them
for the memories.

Buy postcards of the lovely
scenery for they will often look
better than your own photos.
Money

Credit/debit cards -ATM’s available
in most cities (call your bank)

Amount for each student varies
according to shopping desires, etc.

It costs every time you change
money.

May want to get some Euros before
you leave.

Current Euro Exchange Rate:
Approximately
$1.15 = 1€
Alcohol

Not permitted unless part of an
organized cultural meal.

Wine may be served at a few
select meals as part of the
culture. You may choose to
partake or not according to
your own personal choice.

Violation of the alcohol policy
may result in a student being
sent home at his/her own
expense.
StrengthQuest
• Discover your greatest natural talents
• Improve your grades and increase
your learning by making the most of
your talents
• Strategically determine a rewarding
career path based on who your are as
uniquely talented individuals
• Maximize your potential for strengths
by building on your talents rather than
focusing on your weaknesses
• Please submit your information by June
26th
Meeting at Airport

Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston

July 13th @ Noon in front of KLM Royal
Dutch Airline counter (Terminal D)

Will meet early allowing time to gather
as a group and prepare for departure

Departure is at 3:10 p.m.
Flight Information

July 13th (MON)- Houston Intercontinental
◦
◦
◦
◦

Departure KLM (662) – 3:10 p.m.
Arrive July 14th Amsterdam – 7:25 a.m.
Departure KLM (1641) – 9:55 a.m.
Arrive Florence – 11:55 a.m.
July 31st (FRI)– Venezia
◦
◦
◦
◦
Departure KLM (1652) – 11:40 a.m.
Arrive Amsterdam – 1:40 p.m.
Depart KLM (667) – 3:00 p.m.
Arrive Houston – 6:10 p.m.
Web Page/List Serve/Blog

GroupMe Text will be used when
information is updated and we request
you read the e-mail within 24 hours.

ListServ will be used for communication
to help prepare for the trip and give
students a chance to get to know one
another before meeting at the airport.

Web Page - http://champe.tamu.edu/

Facebook Group –
Champe Fitzhugh Italy Trip 2015

ListServ – Italy15@msc.tamu.edu

Blog – Italyfish15@blogspot.com
Contact Information

Luke Altendorf – luke@msc.tamu.edu

Jon Kotinek – jkotinek@exchange.tamu.edu
Catharine West – c-west@msc.tamu.edu


Reid Geissen – reidgeissen@yahoo.com
Arianne Couch – ariannecouch@gmail.com
Chloe Dixon – dixonc003@tamu.edu

General – champe@msc.tamu.edu

