The Texas State Global News Team

By: Connor Temple
connortemple4@gmail.com

SAN MARCOS, Texas -- The Texas State Global News Team, led by Holly Wise, is taking a trip to Guyana along with Texas State University’s respiratory team to report on their service trip

Holly Wise
Taken By: Connor Temple

The Texas State Global News Team was founded by Holly Wise to provide an eye opening experience to mass communications students. The study abroad program is unlike others. It’s a service trip meaning that most of the benefit is personal.

The service trips that Texas State University facilitates are different from the classic study abroad trips most students go on. Instead of studying at the university during the day and exploring the town at night you are immersed in the community.

“Service learning trips are a little bit different. There’s usually no regimented classroom time involved and the purpose of the trip is service oriented. … You’re embedded and really immersed in that local community,” said Holly Wise.

The mass communications students in these service trips report on the community they are helping as much as the nursing and respiratory care students they accompany to Nicaragua and now Guyana.

“The students of the global news team embed with service learning trips from Texas State University specifically to tell the story of the community being served as well as the students and faculty who are volunteering,” said Holly Wise.

Holly’s work has always been service-oriented but on these trips she wants her students to broaden their horizons.

“One thing that I’m hoping for all of my students is that they gain a global perspective of their work. I also want them to learn how to connect with people who are different from them, who have huts instead of houses, who cook over an open fire with no electricity, but once you see these people you see their life is very fulfilled and very happy. There is a lot of joy in these homes and in these families and I hope that can dispel any kind of judgement that we might have toward people who live in developing countries,” said Holly Wise.

Though the interview process for this upcoming trip with the news team is in its final stages. If you are interested in a future service learning trip or would like more information on Holly Wise and the news team check out their website at https://txstglobalnews.wordpress.com.