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Susquehanna University Students get Free Passports

SELINSGROVE — About nine of every ten students who attend Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove study abroad, and when you go overseas one of the most imp...
passport

SELINSGROVE -- About nine of every ten students who attend Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove study abroad, and when you go overseas one of the most important things you need is a passport.

A room inside the Degenstein Campus Center at Susquehanna University is decorated with flags from all over the world. Students gathered to fill out papers and pose for pictures. They were getting passports.

But this event was unique because instead of paying around $135 for a passport, these students at the school in Selinsgrove got them for free.

"We actually had an application process," explained Christina Dinges of Susquehanna University. "Students told us what a passport meant to them."

The nonprofit group Council on International Educational Exchange gave Susquehanna University 100 passports to pass on to students.

"Books and things like that are expensive enough so just having that extra $135 just paid for is a really awesome opportunity," said junior Nathan Gillette.

"That's what my mom was so excited about because they're not cheap. I'm happy that I was able to get one of these," said Sophomore Helena Woytovich.

The Princeton Review journal recently named Susquehanna University one of the top ten schools for study abroad programs. That's what makes getting a free passport that much more special.

"Most of our students, about 90 percent, will study abroad," said Dinges.  "I think this is something that is very unique to Susquehanna."

Even though some of these students do not know where they plan to study abroad, they'll need passports to get to any of those places.

Donors and alumni at Susquehanna University thought the program was such a good idea they've already funded 100 passports for 2017.

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