50 International HULA-la Students in the spring 2025 HULA group become the largest group in years. As the spring 2025 semester began, scores of students set out to explore the world, studying at any one of Harding’s six main international programs. Some groups were larger than others, like the 2025 HULA group, which numbered 35. This marked the greatest enrollment since director Jeremy Daggett joined the program in 2019. Naturally, a program of this size required several months of careful planning. “The only way to move a group of 20-40 around during Patagonia’s high season is to make plans way ahead of time,” Daggett said. “I have to start planning about 11 months before.” After directing the program for over six years, the Daggetts have found strategies that work and expressed the desire to keep experimenting with the semester abroad experience. “We feel like we’ve really settled on an amazing HULA offering travel-wise, and so we don’t mess with it a whole lot year to year,” Daggett said. “But we’re always learning, trying things out, adding and taking away.” One such addition to the three-month adventure included an extended stay in the Colca Valley in Peru, a favorite destination for the Daggett family. Students also visited Cusco, Peru and the Amazon rainforest in a single trip rather than two in order to reduce their carbon footprint and save costs on flights. While the travels and destinations were a huge highlight, those involved took back with them the unique bond only a semester abroad can build. The goal that Daggett had for every group to grow close remained the same. “I would love for them to really engage with people they’ve met and make close relationships because that doesn’t just happen,” Daggett said. “It takes intentionality, as during three months we’re constantly on the go, taking lots of classes, etcetera, but when it happens, it’s beautiful.” As for the students involved, the larger group size was a notable strength of the trip. “The size of the group wasn’t as complicated as we thought it would be at first,” sophomore Sara Crooks said. “It’s much more on the side of those who plan things.” However, there were a few difficulties to overcome when sharing Harding’s campus in Arequipa, Peru El Castillo, with more than 40 people. “The only major downside was having a hard time with hot water for showers,” Crooks said. Another change due to the group size came with the addition of several new HULA officers. In recent years, it became a tradition to elect several students on the trip to lead as activity directors. Their duties included offering encouragement and posting on social media. Sophomore Ella Grace Parmer was elected to the role of social media officer and started to post about the group’s travels and antics under the Instagram account @Hulagins_2025. “After talking with some friends, we decided the Hulagins Instagram account would be a good idea to keep our friends and family in the know of what we were doing,” Parmer said. “We also knew it would be sweet to look back on the memories ourselves.” While the group’s size was large, their growth was even greater as the band of students explored diverse cultures and documented their memories. Sophomore Fletcher Stobaugh summarized his experience positively. “You’re ingrained in the culture, not just a tourist,” Stobaugh said. “It has opened my eyes to culture and what it means to be a human being in the eyes of God.” Written by Asa Fowler
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