Rockhurst students made the most of their summer, spending their time abroad, pursuing internships, traveling the U.S. and discovering new passions. For many, the months away from campus offered a chance to step outside of their daily routines and embrace new experiences. No matter where they spent their time, Rockhurst students have returned to campus with fresh stories, perspectives and new memories.
Junior Sarah Farrens spent a month studying abroad in Rome, with side trips that took Farrens across Europe. Farrens described the experience as life-changing, filled with opportunities to meet people from around the world and push herself outside of her comfort zone.
“Some highlights from my trip would be my solo trip to Vienna, spending a day hiking in the Austrian Alps, and jumping off of a boat in the middle of the ocean in Capri, Italy,” Farrens said. “This trip has further inspired my love for travel and I plan on taking another Europe trip in December.”
Junior Kylie Hunter also traveled abroad, experiencing four countries—Italy, Greece, Croatia, and Spain. Hunter said her time overseas was brief but deeply impactful. “From the food, to the fashion, to simple things in their everyday lifestyle, this trip was incredible and left me wanting to see more,” Hunter said.
However, not all students spent their summer overseas as senior Kayce Cooper gained valuable professional experience through an internship with Sporting Kansas City, where Cooper worked as the Fan Development Intern.
Cooper helped the club connect with fans across the region, developing marketing activations and engaging with the KC soccer community. “From engaging with fans in the Kansas City community at activations to developing new marketing activations and campaigns, it was an incredible summer of increasing brand awareness throughout Kansas City and the Midwest,” Cooper said.
Some highlights for Cooper included working at the KC 2026 World Cup Kick-Off Party, collaborating with the brand Saturday’s Football, and traveling to Wichita for a youth camp.
Meanwhile, junior Eden Kay spent the summer traveling across the United States, with stops in Boston, Colorado and San Diego. Kay explored Fenway Park, toured Harvard and MIT and celebrated his sister’s graduation. Kay also attended a concert at Red Rocks and saw Coldplay live, an experience made even more memorable by the controversy that unfolded at the show.
Beyond traveling, Kay also pursued his musical side, starting to perform at open mics. “I went to see my sister graduate in San Diego, went to Boston and saw Coldplay, went vegan, went to Red Rocks Colorado to see one of my favorite bands and started doing open mics too as I play guitar and sing” Kay said.
From studying abroad in Europe to launching careers in Kansas City and exploring passions closer to home, Rockhurst students have returned to campus this fall with stories that reflect the variety of opportunities summer can hold. Whether through travel, professional growth, or personal creativity, each student found a way to make the season memorable—experiences that will continue to shape their lives long after summer break.
