Two students selected for new study abroad opportunity at Queens University Belfast 

Gunnar Copeland (left) and Wade Hall

Since he arrived at Randolph, Wade Hall ’21 has dreamed of studying abroad. Now, thanks to a new partnership between Randolph and Queen’s University Belfast (QUB), he’ll get to spend a semester abroad in Ireland. What’s more, he’ll get to experience it with one of his best friends, Gunnar Copeland ’21. 

The two students are the first to benefit from the new partnership between Randolph and QUB, which was established earlier this fall. Hall and Copeland will live and study at the university from January through June of 2020. 

“Our international affiliate partnerships help Randolph students in their quest to ‘engage the world critically and creatively, live and work honorably, and experience life abundantly,’” said Bunny Goodjohn, associate dean of Randolph College. “The addition of Queen’s University Belfast to our slate of affiliates provides once more an opportunity for study in the UK, a destination the U.S. Department of State places at the head of its ‘top 10 study abroad’ destinations. We’re excited that Wade Hall and Gunnar Copeland will be the first students to experience life at QUB, an institution the Times Higher Education Magazine ranks 22nd in the world for international outlook.”

Hall is majoring in mathematics and economics at Randolph and plans to take courses in Economics and Corporate Strategy, Introduction to Econometrics, and Philosophy and The Good Life while abroad. Hall is extremely active in the Randolph community and is involved in activities such as the College judiciary board, Omicron Delta Kappa (national leadership society), the SUPER program, the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), and the Davenport Leadership program. He is also a member of the men’s soccer team.

“I’m excited to be starting a great relationship with QUB, and I hope I can be a resource for any future students considering studying abroad in the future,” Hall said. “Probably the best part about it all is that I get to embark on this adventure with my good friend, Gunnar. I’m looking forward to making memories with my best friend at Randolph.”

Copeland also looks forward to spending a semester abroad. He is an engineering physics major at Randolph, as well as a resident assistant, chair of the Exam Scheduling Committee, member of the men’s soccer team, and past participant in the Davenport Leadership program. At QUB, he plans to study astrophysics, computer programming, and philosophy. 

“It is exciting to be the first to do something like this,” Copeland said. “It represents a challenge because there is not standard procedure for the process. We’re having to make it ourselves, but we’re looking forward to it!”

Learn more about Queen’s University Belfast at https://www.qub.ac.uk/.