Students traveled to Valencia, Spain for the Spring 2024 semester as part of the CCI Global Communication Scholars Semester program.
Since freshman year, Tonyea Pruitt has been researching various study abroad programs offered at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Studying abroad has always been a goal for the senior School of Journalism and Media major. When she learned about the CCI Global Communication Scholars Semester in Valencia, Spain, she knew it was the one.
“It was a great opportunity to not only study abroad but to also complete an internship in my field,” Pruitt said. “An additional plus was that a faculty member was coming with us for the beginning of the program, so it helped me feel safe.”
The College of Communication and Information launched this trip in 2022 and works with sponsor school Catholic University of Valencia San Vicente Mártir and WorldStrides International Studies Abroad (WorldStrides ISA) to create an immersive experience for students.
Pruitt said one of her favorite memories was experiencing Las Fallas de Valencia, an annual festival celebrated in March to welcome spring. From the food to fireworks, Pruitt said there were so many people and activities always happening during Las Fallas.
“It was simply an amazing experience,” Pruitt said. “Being able to be a part of something so important to their culture allowed me to immerse myself in the local traditions and appreciate the community.”
Students traveling had the opportunity to plunge themselves into Spanish culture and gain a better understanding of current and ongoing cultural issues while living in the country.
One of the activities students participated in this year is touring different Spanish media outlets. Students visited Copa Radio, Las Provincias newspaper, and Levantes newspaper.
Advertising major Julia Clerkin said the media visits were her first inside look into radio and newspaper. She was intrigued to learn more about the practices the outlets employed to target their various audiences.
Psychology major Gabrielle Guy said the media companies were very informative about the connection between the public and the media. She said they all want to communicate important information to their audiences but also strive to report information audiences will engage with.
In addition to completing class work and exploring Spain, students also interned for different companies.
Pruitt worked at Getlinko, an SEO agency that helps other companies and brands increase their visibility. She was a marketing assistant for them and wrote SEO articles and created media and visuals for blogs and landing pages. She also helped write automated emails and text communications utilizing HubSpot and translated over thirty-two blogs from Spanish to English.
Pruitt said the skills and lessons she gained through this experience will help her towards her goal of becoming a well-rounded journalist.
“From this experience, I was able to enhance my writing skills,” Pruitt said. “This internship taught me a lot about being adaptable to changes and tasks that may arise, being more vocal when I need assistance, and being willing to learn something new.”
Applications open for 2025 semester
Applications for the CCI Global Communication Scholars Semester in Valencia, Spain for spring 2025 are now open.
The program is split into two parts over the course of three months. During the first part of the semester, students take two courses from their UT faculty leader and a local professor from the Catholic University of Valencia. After completing their coursework, students will have a one-week travel break before concluding the semester with a personalized internship experience with a local business.
Interested students are encouraged to contact School of Journalism and Media Assistant Professor Mustafa Oz at moz@utk.edu and visit the Vols Abroad Portal for more information.
“It is a great experience and opportunity to explore a different country and gain hands-on experience in your field,” Pruitt said. “This program is a great opportunity if you are willing to be challenged. It is an opportunity for personal growth, professional development, new language skills, cultural immersion and more.”