Studying in Spain was "one of the most incredible things I ever did in my life," said Jen Lech, a Spanish and psychology double-major.

During four and a half months abroad, she said, "one of the biggest things I learned is that you really can't assume anything about another country or culture until you experience it. Things look different through your own eyes."

Lech's acute vision, coupled with her shiny pink Sony Cybershot camera, helped her win Gettysburg College's Photo of the Day contest. The photos at right, including the top image of a camel caravan in the Sahara Desert, are from the same side-trip to Morocco as her winning image. Lech is also the photo editor of The Gettysburgian student newspaper.

Living in Seville "influenced my Spanish speaking more than any class," Lech said. "When I came back to class on campus, I could tell the difference immediately."

Spanish is also important for Lech outside the classroom. "Spanish has always kept me connected to the community," she said, pointing to the many co-curricular service-learning opportunities she has taken part in, including tutoring children of migrant agricultural workers and assisting at a local Latino community center.

Opportunities to get involved have also been a big part of Lech's experience in Gettysburg College's psychology department, where she worked closely with faculty members as a research assistant. "It's not something I would've been able to do as an undergraduate at a large university," she said. "It made me realize I want to be a psychology professor and do research."

Lech is a member of the Class of 2010.

Gettysburg College is a highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences. With a student body of approximately 2,500, it is located on a 200-acre campus adjacent to the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania. The College was founded in 1832.

Contact: Jim Hale, online content editor