JCU Welcomes Leonardo da Vinci Students for Final Meeting of "Sport, Culture, and Dialogue in Sapri" Project
On Friday, October 25th, JCU welcomed students, professors, and Vice Principal of Leonardo da Vinci high school of Sapri, a small town in the Campania region of Southern Italy, for the final meeting of “Sport, Culture, and Dialogue in Sapri,” a project which highlights the value that sports bring to the community.
During this experience, students learned many new skills, including organization, planning, and teamwork. They also worked together to create a final presentation in English, illustrating the activities they participated in during a weekend-long sport retreat in Sapri, in September. JCU’s Athletics Coordinator, Marco Iorio, and Leonardo da Vinci professor Gerardo Ferrara managed the event with the support of Gina Marie Spinelli, Executive Coordinator of JCU’s Programs for High Schools. After the students’ presentation, they took part in a tour of the University guided by Giordana Mongardini, JCU Visitor Center Coordinator.
In welcoming Sapri students, Dean of Academics Stefano Arnone highlighted the value of the project and emphasized how bringing together people from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds through sports, tourism, and appreciation of the territory provides a stimulating perspective to both students and their educators.
“This initiative was possible thanks to the dedication of those working behind the scenes and the paramount role of sports as a powerful driver of integration,” said Marco Iorio.
Professor Ferrara commented, “I am the representative of the Sport Science Department at the Leonardo da Vinci Institute. We managed to create something significant for the Campania region, involving schools and local authorities, as well as local sports and hospitality businesses. In addition to building a wonderful partnership with John Cabot University, our goal is to establish a sports tourism initiative for Sapri, and to give a leading role to students completing their studies in our tourism-oriented high school.”
Students were enthusiastic about the initiative. “It was wonderful to get to know and make friends with those who participated in this project,” said Vittoria Caroli, JCU student and captain of the tennis team. “We shared an unforgettable journey.”
Learn more about JCU’s Programs for High Schools.
