WKU News

Mahurin Honors College scholar, Allie Wetzel calls Santa Claus, Indiana, home and is heading into her junior year at WKU—though it’s only her second year on campus thanks to credits earned before arriving. She’s majoring in Exercise Science.

She first heard about the Hawai‘i faculty led study away program during an academic preview day. At the time, she considered herself “more of a homebody” and worried the travel would feel long—but then she thought, “you don’t get the chance to go to Hawaii every day.” The two-week format, “14 days… felt perfect”, made the decision easy.

Before departure, students completed short online modules—one in Exercise Science and one in Sport Management—so the group could hit the ground running once on the islands. In Hawai‘i they surfed, kayaked, snorkeled, scuba dived, and hiked: a built‑in laboratory for noticing how bodies respond to new environments.

Allie says the mix of majors helped her see connections she hadn’t considered. Even something like surfing “was exhausting”—great material for Exercise Science—but participating in local sport and recreation scenes also opened her eyes to what counts as Sport Management beyond pro teams and arenas. “Hand in hand,” she sums it up.

The trip was fully WKU‑coordinated; the group worked with local outfitters for gear and had instructors (for example, at the surf site) join them on location.

Before signing up she’d “never really heard about a study away”—only the longer, overseas study abroad experiences—so discovering a short, domestic option was a pleasant surprise. She’s already telling others about it.

Academically, Allie is ahead of schedule. Exercise Science majors complete a 150‑hour practicum and a 300‑hour internship; she starts her practicum next semester because of the credits she brought in.

The Hawai‘i experience “made me a lot more excited” about her field. It reminded her that learning is “more than just… what you experience” in class, widened her view of how different people’s bodies and contexts shape activity, and helped her grow personally.

Her motivation to enter the health field is personal: a cousin with a rare genetic disorder went through extensive therapy, and hearing about occupational therapy (OT) sparked Allie’s interest in a patient‑centered path that avoided the blood and acute injuries that made her squeamish. Occupational therapy, she explains, focuses on daily living—helping people feed, dress, and move after events like a stroke—distinct from the injury recovery emphasis she associates with physical therapy (PT).

She hopes to work with kids—fine motor skills, feeding, and other developmental tasks appeal to her—and could see herself in an elementary school or private pediatric practice.

Allie’s upcoming practicum in Bowling Green in the 2024-2025 school year will expose her to a range of clients—both adults and children—and even some PT services, giving her a broader clinical preview.

Her advice for students curious, but unsure, about study away: “Talk to your professors and… see what fits you best.” She had “an amazing time,” and the experience “makes you feel… part of something bigger.”

Interested in exploring your study away options with the National Student Exchange (NSE) program? Schedule an appointment with the WKU NSE Coordinator, Katie Bush.