HWS News
17 November 2020 Eight Blocker Fellows Conduct Cultural Research on Germany
With support from the Julius G. Blocker ’53 Endowed Fund, HWS students pursue cultural research in Germany each semester and, upon their return to campus, present their insights and experiences to the HWS community at the annual Blocker Showcase.
Last spring and summer, study abroad programs were cut short or canceled due to COVID-19, including programs in Berlin, Freiburg and Leipzig, where eight Blocker Fellows were enrolled and four other students were scheduled to participate in intensive language training. Nevertheless, these students were able to explore their interests in German language and culture, creating richly detailed presentations for a virtual Blocker Showcase.
The presentations include research from:
Ashton Ariola ’22
Program: Leipzig online intensive language program
Project: Leipzig, Germany – a Model for U.S. Sustainability?
Needhi Bajaj ’23
Program: Leipzig online intensive language program
Project: German Culture through a Computer Screen
Hannah Bendull ’21
Program: IES Freiburg; Program: Leipzig online intensive language program
Project: Art and Architecture in Freiburg
Olivia Broomes ’23
Program: Leipzig online intensive language program
Project: Politische Themen in Sport/ Political Topics in Sport
Kevin Cervantes ’21
Program: IES Berlin
Project: I Saw Myself at Museumsinsel
Jack Fell ’21
Program: IES Freiburg
Project: Understanding German Culture through Football (Soccer)
Victoria Karpowicz ’23
Program: Leipzig online intensive language program
Project: Leipzig Street Art
Morgan Nelis ’21
Program: IES Berlin
Project: Ein kurzer Aufenthalt in Berlin/ A Brief Stay in Berlin
Alexis Racioppa ’21
Program: IES Berlin
Project: Nachhaltigkeit in der Stadt/Sustainability in the City
Mariah Reinke ’21
Program: IES Berlin
Project: Some Days in the Life of Berlin
Robert Tasker ’21
Program: IES Freiburg
Project: Mein (einsames) Studentenwohnheim / My (lonely) Dorm
Brandy Vargas ’20
Program: IES Berlin
Project: Berlin: A Multifaceted Experience
Learn more about the Blocker Fellowship.
Julius G. Blocker ’53 was a visionary whose generous support of the work of the Center for Global Education will benefit generations of HWS students.
During his undergraduate years at the Colleges, where he majored in modern languages, Blocker developed an interest in Germany that would evolve into a lifelong passion. That interest grew while he earned a master’s in international affairs at Columbia University and during his time as a Fulbright scholar at the Freie Universität (Free University) in West Berlin.
After returning to the U.S., Blocker embarked on a long, successful career operating his family’s business. Upon his retirement, he made provisions to establish an endowed fund in honor of his late mother, Maria Blocker, through which he could share his passion for Germany with students. The Julius G. Blocker ’53 Endowed Fund provides generous support to students pursuing study abroad opportunities through one of the Colleges’ programs in Germany, enabling “Blocker Fellows” to experience German culture and society in much the same way Blocker himself did.