By Ashley Bowman
Special to the Averett Office of Marketing and Communications
In addition to hosting trips abroad designed for students, Averett University also offers alumni-centered travel options. Eight years ago, retired Averett professor Dr. Larry Wilburn created the Alumni & Friends travel group for non-students. Each year, Wilburn and Alumni Relations work closely to plan exciting trips for Averett alumni and friends and the Danville community at large.
During his tenure at Averett, Wilburn was an assistant dean and professor of French and is currently an adjunct music instructor at Averett. In addition, he served as study abroad coordinator.
“Averett needed to offer travel opportunities to alumni, in addition to the current study abroad programs. Travel programs keep the alumni engaged on a level different from daily campus activities,” said Wilburn. “We also expanded the program to include anyone who might wish to travel with us, providing an outreach to the community and beyond.”
Now, the group is gearing up for two trips in 2018.
In June, the Alumni & Friends travel group is headed to the Canadian Rockies for a one-week excursion. The cost of the trip includes round-trip flights between Raleigh-Durham (RDU) airport and Calgary via Air Canada, hotel accommodations for eight nights, 11 meals (eight breakfasts and three dinners), and much more. The cost of this trip is $2,689 per person with a shared room, or for those who want a little more privacy on this trip, a single room would cost $3,429. Travel insurance is also available for an additional cost. Sign up continues through the first of the year, but the cost increases $400 per person after December 20.
In the fall, Alumni & Friends is headed to France. The group will be cruising the wine region of Bordeaux and other port cities. This cruise is a nine-day excursion and will take travelers through some of the most beautiful regions of France. The cost of this trip includes round-trip airfare from RDU and an all-inclusive cruise experience aboard the ship. Enjoy daily gourmet meals, a complimentary minibar, complimentary Wi-Fi, and much more. There is also an optional three-night pre-extension to Spain which includes tours of Bilbao and San Sebastian. Starting at $3,795, travelers can be a part of this experience. There are other pricing options available for single-room occupancy, as well as larger cabins with balconies.
The dates of the trips are June 13-21 and October 21-28 respectively. For more information, contact Wilburn at [email protected] or by calling (434) 770-3285.
