Arkansas Tech University student Eli Koonce had never flown in an airplane — much less left the United States — before this year.
But after spending the spring 2026 semester working with his fellow ATU students as well as students in Germany and Finland on a virtual business simulation, he was ready to take the leap.
Koonce was part of a delegation of 14 ATU students that traveled to Germany in June to pursue the in-person portion of their academic work with peers from THM University of Applied Sciences in Giessen, Germany, and Kajaani University of Applied Sciences in Kajaani, Finland.
“When we finally arrived and met them in person, the room was loud with cheers and laughter of finally seeing a long-missed friend,” said Koonce, a senior agriculture business major from Cedarville. “Even though we all lived half a world apart, I found that we were all just humans trying to get by in life. It gave me a greater appreciation for how big the world actually is and how much little acts of kindness and a positive attitude can help you navigate it. The connections I made in class and at ATU events are what really pushed me to take the chance to participate in something completely out of my wheelhouse.”
Jessica Brock, ATU assistant professor of management, and Gabriele Haulmark, director of the ATU International Education Office, ATU study abroad coordinator and senior instructor of German, served as faculty leaders for the study abroad group.
In addition to Koonce, the other ATU students who made the trip were Will Aaron of Little Rock, Abbi Crawford of Glenwood, Kaleb Lambert of Russellville, Allie McConnell of Nashville, Madison Mertens of Harrison, Bryan Flores of Russellville, Alexis Lara of Maumelle, Audrey Latham of Ozark, Rassen Shaver of Charleston, Natalie Spadoni of Pine Bluff, Cav Szott of Orlando, Fla., Sarah Waggoner of Russellville and Noah White of Jonesboro.
The trip was the continuation of a collaboration with THM University of Applied Sciences that began in 2018. The partnership expanded in 2022 to include student travel. In the years since, there have been visits to Germany for ATU students and visits to the United States for THM University of Applied Sciences students.
As a result of the agreement, ATU students have opportunities to take business administration, logistics management, computer science, communication technology, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering classes taught in English at THM University of Applied Sciences in Giessen.
Brock explained that the annual business simulation project between the partner universities provides students on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean with an “opportunity to strengthen their cross-cultural collaboration skills and apply business concepts in a global setting.”
In addition to the business simulation project, ATU students participated in academic lectures on tariffs, intercultural competency and entrepreneurship during their time at THM University of Applied Sciences.
The ATU delegation also took a cruise on the Rhine River and visited the site of the concentration camp at Dachau. They toured Nymphenburg Palace, Neuschwanstein Castle, Linderhof Palace, Landshut University, the Leica camera and lens factory, Cologne Cathedral, the European Central Bank and the German Stock Exchange.
“The biggest surprises, by far, were the foods that looked similar to what we have in America but tasted different, the amount of walking and public transport that everyone uses instead of cars and the climate,” said Koonce. “I purchased a Dr. Pepper and found out really quickly that it tasted nothing like the American version of Dr. Pepper. The large number of vegan options everywhere was also something new. Then there was the public transport, which mostly consisted of trains and buses. Though people had cars, it seemed like most just took the train, even when going long distances. Lastly, the climate was amazing. It was almost always 65-to-80 degrees Fahrenheit with low humidity, and the sun rose around 4:45 a.m. and set around 10 p.m.”
Looking back, Koonce is glad he took a chance on himself and climbed aboard that airplane.
“ATU students, especially those who have not traveled, should take the chance, step out of their comfort zone and travel abroad,” said Koonce. “It will broaden your horizon on what is possible, give you new ideas on solving your problems and make you better aware that there are biases that can shape you into something you are not. Studying abroad is not just another class in another country. It’s learning about other cultures and giving you a leg up in an international situation. It keeps your mind open to all the other ways people go about their life, helping you understand why other people see and do things differently.”
Visit www.atu.edu/studyabroad to learn more about opportunities for ATU students to study internationally.
Editor’s note: more photos from the June 2026 ATU study abroad trip to Germany are published below.
