As UNA students and faculty prepare to part ways for summer break, many are also perfecting their summer plans. Whether travelling internationally or staying near home, all seem to be anticipating the summer ahead.

Senior Evan King will be balancing work with play this summer.

“I’ll be doing an internship, and I’ll also be drinking a lot of PBR and playing with my Boston terrier puppy,” he said.

Freshman Ben Procious will be devoting his summer to basic training in Oklahoma for the United States Army.

“I’m excited about it, but it’s going to be extremely hot there,” he said.

Others, such as junior Lauren Daley, will be travelling internationally. Daley wants to become fluent in Spanish and will be studying abroad in Spain. She anticipates the trip to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, she said.

“When else in my life am I going to be able to do this?” she said. “I want the full cultural experience, and I know it’s going to be really, really fun.”

Sophomore Mack Cornwell is also looking forward to a summer of travelling. His destinations include Peru, Cancun, the Olympics in London and China.

“I’m looking forward to hot-tubbing to work on a nice, golden tan and also having a cultural experience that will leave me further enriched with the spices of the world,” he said.

Senior Max Beech is looking forward to spending his summer at Summer Beach Project, a ministry of Campus Outreach, a Christian organization on campus.

“I’ll be living at the beach, doing discipleship training and working full-time,” he said. “I’m looking forward to growing in my faith and hanging out with friends.”

Dr. Larry Bates and Dr. Richard Hudiburg hope to hike at least 100 miles of the Appalachian Trail.

“I think most professors find wild things to do during the summers,” Bates said. “I just like to see places I’ve never seen before. Honestly, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich at a picnic table in Alaskan Wilderness tastes better than any steak anywhere.”

Dr. Matt Schoenbachler is hoping to have a productive summer. He will be writing an online textbook for WWNorton Publisher, teaching classes at UNA and attending a conference in Baltimore.

Vice President for Student Affairs David Shields will be travelling for his children’s graduations, catching up on reading, running in several races later in the summer, catching up on yard work and spending time with his family.

SGA President Will Riley will have a busy summer working full time while also finding time to lead SOAR counseling, attend an SGA retreat in Pennsylvania and take a vacation to the beach.

Above all else, most students will agree that a break from classes is what they are anticipating the most, Riley said.

“I’m most looking forward to not having schoolwork,” he said.