Despite the seven-month delay stemming from the SARS outbreak last summer, 11 members of Wittenberg’s Honors Program finally enjoyed the opportunity of a lifetime, Dec. 27-Jan.7, as they traveled to China thanks to the $1.9 million Freeman Foundation grant awarded to Wittenberg’s East Asian Studies (EAS) program in 2002.

The students, joined by group adviser Jennifer Oldstone-Moore, associate professor of religion, James Huffman, H. Orth Hirt professor of history, Rick Incorvati, assistant professor of English, Barbara Kaiser, associate professor of religion, and Lora Lawson, assistant professor of education, were awarded the trip following an extensive selection process.

“Their proposal was wonderful,” Oldstone-Moore said. “Each student identified a site or aspect of China’s culture and then worked to develop contacts and/or a knowledge base in those areas.”

For example, geography major Caela O’Connell ’04 from Jessup, Md., decided to focus on Peking Man, the name used for the bones of an extinct hominid discovered near Beijing, China, in 1927 inside Zhoukoudian Cave and belonging to the species Homo erectus.

“We don’t know much about ancient Chinese history,” said O’Connell, who presented her research on Peking Man to the group prior to its tour of the Zhoukoudian Cave. “By studying and sharing this information, I thought it would help to connect people to the longevity of Chinese culture,” she said.

Fellow participant Emily Kingsley ’04, a biology/history major from Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich., shared the history of the Great Wall with the group, while biology major Ben Burkam ’06 from Delaware, Ohio, discussed Chinese medicine prior to the group learning about acupuncture and Chinese herbs during its visit to the Zhejiang College of Traditional Medicine.

“The best thing is that all 11 of us have majors that are diverse and that reflect the broad range available at Wittenberg, allowing us to learn from each other,” Burkam said.

Honors students Janet Barrows ’05, Laura Drinkwine ’04, Emily Anne Guhde ’05, Miranda Hoover ’05, A.J. Kessler ’06, Grant Rogers ’06, Librette Tye ’05 and Libby Weaver ’04 also traveled to China.

“Everyone was so grateful for this opportunity,” O’Connell said. “This is a phenomenal chance that we have had, and we’ll do our best to share what we’ve learned.”

Committed to increasing, strengthening and popularizing the teaching of Asia in college and university classrooms, the Freeman Foundation has allowed numerous Wittenberg faculty, students and staff to travel to East Asia for in-depth study, research and exploration thanks to the grant.

In May 2002, the men’s and women’s basketball teams toured China, and this May, the Chamber Singers and Handbell Choir will travel to South Korea and Japan.