Undergraduate - Testimonials
![Jack Campbell in the Pompeii Amphitheater](/sites/classics/files/styles/7_5_placeholder_/public/images/2021/Jack_Campbell_Pompeii_Amphitheater.jpg?h=309e12e8&itok=RjNB3yim)
I came to KU with the goal of achieving an education that was holistic and rich and to engage in a curriculum that was challenging, smart, and rewarding. I found all of this in the Classics program. As a Classics major, I was offered opportunities to grow and explore my undergraduate education in ways that I could not have expected. For example, on any given day, I could go from reading Latin to viewing the plaster casts of ancient sculptures in the Wilcox Classical Museum to having a discussion about the Greek plays of Euripides. The Department of Classics also offers students a plethora of opportunities to go abroad. I was also fortunate enough to study at the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies in Rome (aka the “Centro”). At the Centro, I took classes on Roman History and Archaeology right on site. Additionally, the program featured week-long trips to both Campania and Sicily. It was an incredible experience to say the least!
![Paul Thomas at the Center Chapel, Ottawa](/sites/classics/files/styles/7_5_placeholder_/public/images/2021/P_Thomas_0.jpg?h=235b8c4f&itok=-x9Idbkg)
My positive experience with Latin at KU led me to branch out and study other related subjects, and I soon was wrapped up in the world of Classics. During my sophomore year, I was lucky enough to get involved with Undergraduate Research. Working with Prof. Stinson, I conducted an archaeological survey of a early 20th c. chapel ruin near Ottawa, KS. This was one of the many experiences I had as a Classics major that helped enrich my university education. In the span of four years, I truly learned what it meant to be a young scholar. I will forever be thankful to the wonderful professors in the department who were helpful, supportive, and enjoyable. Considering how many doors opened for me, I cannot imagine what my KU journey would have been like without the Classics program.
The Classics department then helped me receive a scholarship to attend the University of Chicago for my Master's degree. It's 2021, and I'm currently back at KU, working as a library specialist at Watson Library; I'm also a PhD candidate at Emporia State, studying library science. It might sound unbelievable, but even in my current life phase, I'm happy to say that I still regularly employ the methods of scholarship that I learned as a young KU Classics major. Considering how many doors opened for me, I cannot imagine what my KU journey would have been like without the Classics program.