According to interviews with 165 UM students, Florida is the top vacation destination this year. Of the students surveyed, 60 are planning to travel to Florida this spring break. Destin, Fla., seems to be the most popular choice, with more than a dozen students planning to spend spring break there.
Among the many traveling to Destin is freshman political science major Sofia Sloss, who is excited to take a trip with the new friends she has made in college. She is, “ready to embrace the warm weather and pretend it is summer for a few days.” Others are headed elsewhere on Florida’s Gulf Coast.
“I’m going to Pensacola, Fla.,” Shaelen Hudson, a junior biochemistry and business major from Marion, Ill., said. “I and six of my friends are going down for a few days.”
Nan Pittman, a freshman majoring in allied health on the pre-medical track, revealed her plans to head south with some of her friends.
“I’m going to spring break with some of my sorority sisters and some of my friends from high school,” Pittman said. “We’re going to Miramar (Beach, Fla.), and we’re so excited!”
Other warm-weather travel destinations include Orange Beach, Ala., and several beaches in South Carolina, where 14 students are traveling in hopes of obtaining some rest and relaxation.
While warm weather and beaches attract the majority of students, sophomore hospitality management Mia Simpson and junior integrated marketing communications major Lily James have set their sights on New York City.
These two are not the only ones traveling north. Senior mechanical engineering Austin Hipskind and sophomore communication sciences and disorders major Lily Rohling are embracing the Windy City’s charm with trips to Chicago. Freshman JP McElwain is heading into Packers territory with a trip to Green Bay, Wis.
Many students have opted to participate in missionary work. Sophomore allied health studies major Addison Armstrong and international studies major Emory Coscia are going on a mission trip to Cuba with Ole Miss Cru, a Christian campus ministry group. A group of freshmen have their sights set on Central America, as they are participating in mission trips to Belize and Guatemala. Carissa Strum, a junior majoring in pharmaceutical sciences, is also bound for Panama on a mission trip.
Brooke Bradley, a junior communication sciences and disorders major from Pensacola, Fla., is staying within the states for her mission trip.
“I’m going to Berkeley, Calif.,” Bradley said. “Me and nine other people from Pinelake Church are going to Berkeley to spread the gospel.”
Eleven students are choosing to travel to Texas over the break. Freshmen journalism major Pryce Bell and criminal justice major Caroline Oswick stated they “are full of rodeo spirit” and “are excited to make their way to Houston.”
Others are traveling for work and school-related purposes.
Jasmine Carballo, a freshman computer science major, shared her plans.
“For spring break, I’m going to the SEC (Basketball) Tournament in Greenville, S.C.” Carballo said. “I’m going with the band here.”
Harrison Stewart, senior public policy and international studies major, is visiting potential law schools.
“I’m visiting law schools that I was accepted to and am going to some admitted students days,” Stewart said. “I’m trying to see where I’m gonna end up next year.”
Jorja Carter contributed reporting.
