Christian Hedrick
Studying journalism in Urbino was a life changing experience. The time I spent in Italy flew by, but I feel like my writing, reporting and photography skills improved more in these four weeks than in any journalism class I have taken at home. The small class sizes and one-on-one meetings from some of the best, most experienced, instructors in the field gave me the personalized advice I needed in order to grow as a journalist. Beyond that, the stunning environment, friendly people and amazing events the program provided made the classes enjoyable rather than arduous. As much as I learned in the classroom, perhaps the most valuable experience I acquired on the trip was from reporting in a foreign environment. Learning how to work with an interpreter, find a story and relate to people in a completely different culture are skills that I will keep for the rest of my life.
As a young boy growing up in the shadow of the factory in Pesaro, Italy, Paolo Marchinelli regularly watched the motorcycles being packed onto trucks and sent around the world. He says it was easy to fall in love with the lightweight bikes that won over a thousand races in 20 years. He remembers getting his first, a red 1967 Mini Bike, and finally being able join the rest of the boys in his neighborhood.