By: Meghan Runte
McNicholas High School has had many opportunities for students to attend educational trips to other countries, and on May 27, 2025, students will depart on their way to Europe, led by Ms. Mel Gaskins, arts department chair and International Program Coordinator at McNick.
Gaskins has led several other educational trips through EF tours including Italy, Greece, Japan, and Europe. Students are informed of the trips and are able to sign up for each year’s trip a year in advance through reading the newsletter, emails, the school website, and posters hung up throughout the hallways. Parents are also able to go on the trip, but there are limited spots for parents.
Gaskins said the cost depends on how long the trip is and where they are going. She takes into consideration where the students prefer to go when deciding the location of each trip. “Everything that I base off of that next trip that I’m booking is through conversations that I have with the students about where they want to go,” Gaskins said. She said she is excited that students are gaining interest in Asia because of its unique architecture, food, and culture.
The teacher chaperones who are attending the upcoming Europe trip are Gaskins, social studies teacher Mr. Shawn Young, and science teacher Mr. Jon Spurlock. The trip will consist of 10 locations, starting in Amsterdam, then to Heidelburg, Munich, Innsbruck, Venice, Verona, Lucerne, Burgundy Region, Paris, and ending in London.
Junior Natalie Cox attended the China trip in 2024. She said she “didn’t know much Chinese culture or language prior to the trip, but that didn’t hinder the experience and helped me to learn more about the country.” She said she loved seeing street performers play music and seeing the traditional clothes and instruments. She also loved seeing the schools in China and making connections to her classmates, and she said she had a “very positive personal experience.”
Junior Alex Stewart also attended the China trip and will be attending the Europe trip. He said he loved “getting to immerse myself in a completely different and new culture.” He also said he loved visiting schools in China and being able to talk to different students in attendance. Stewart has wanted to go to Europe for a long time. He said his parents went on a similar trip in high school, so they were on board with him going. He said he is most excited to see Lucerne because of the photos and videos he had seen, and it was his parents’ favorite spot they went to on their trip.
The McNicholas Milestone 