By Nanxi Wang · Contributing Writer
Fifty Grove City College students traded a quiet fall break morning for a 3 a.m. bus ride to Washington on the annual trip the Imago Dei Office ran last month.
Open to all students for a $15 fee, the trip combined a guided tour of the U.S. Capitol, free time to explore the city and an evening walk among its monuments and memorials.
The Imago Dei Office, created to support students from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds, chose the nation’s capital for its mix of cultures and histories, according to Chloe Wilhelm, the office’s director.
“It’s a great place to see different cultures and backgrounds come together,” Wilhelm said. For international students, she added, “This is a great opportunity to learn American culture through the nation’s capital.” For American students, “there is also a chance to learn about diverse history from places such as the Holocaust museum.”
The day started with a guided tour of the Capitol, which a Grove City College alumnus led. Students went through the central rotunda and the historic House and Senate meeting chambers made in the neoclassical style.
After spending the afternoon exploring the city on their own, students reconvened for a monument walk at sunset. The route included the Lincoln Memorial, the World War II Memorial, the Vietnam Memorial and the Thomas Jefferson Memorial.
The hours between the tour and walk were left open for students to visit the many destinations around Washington according to their interests. For junior Elias Freire, that free time meant a return to a favorite spot.
“I have always found the Library of Congress to be beautiful,” Freire said.
Freire was glad to show it to some of his classmates. Other popular locations included the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History and the National Gallery of Art.
Despite the early departure and return, students found the bus trip worthwhile.
Sophomore Matteo Croufer thought the bus trip was worth it “even though (he) forgot (his) pillow!” He also thought the trip “provided great opportunity for enrichment and meaningful time with other students.”
Croufer pointed out the architecture and the abundance of fine arts as some of the best aspects of the trip.
A post-trip survey found that the trip accomplished its goal. Students gave the trip an average rating of 4.89 out of 5. Wilhelm said respondents indicated a high likelihood of recommending the trip to a friend and of joining another trip.
In the feedback, many students reported gaining a better understanding of the world after seeing it from a new perspective. Students also cited “the ability to freely choose” locations as a strength of the trip and pointed to the Capitol tour and monument walk as highlights.
Wilhelm said the next bus trip will be scheduled for fall 2027, though the location is not yet decided. She hopes to incorporate more activities into the trip to make it more meaningful and welcomes location suggestions from students.
