Five Things Knox College Students Are Doing This Summer
From Galesburg to Chicago to Lesotho, Knox Students, Faculty, and Staff Stay Busy Over the Summer Months
The school year may be over, but Knox College students, staff, and faculty are staying active this summer, researching, taking classes, volunteering, and studying abroad. Here are five opportunities the Knox community is taking advantage of this summer break.
Lesotho Service and Learning Experience
In June 2026, Knox students will travel to Lesotho, Africa, to participate in a month-long program emphasizing community partnerships, education, and sustainable development. The program is administered by Wittenberg University.
Daniel J. Logan Associate Professor of Peace and Justice Studies Leanne Trapedo Sims is accompanying the students, having engaged with Wittenberg on the program for nearly a year. The trip is a pilot project and came about because Wittenberg Professor Scott Rosenberg's son, Josh, was a student in Trapedo Sims’ Introduction to Peace and Justice Studies class. This is the first time Knox has participated in an immersive learning experience in Lesotho.
During this experience, students will build a Habitat for Humanity home for a family in need, support an early childhood development center, paint educational murals and learning spaces in local schools, and provide classroom resources while improving community facilities. Students will also meet the King of Lesotho.These efforts not only deliver tangible support to families and schools but also strengthen students’ global awareness, cultural fluency, and dedication to service.
Students can find out what life is like in the Windy City by participating in Knox’s immersive experience in Chicago.
Associate Professor of Political Science Thomas Bell and Associate Professor of Political Science Andrew Civettini will lead the program, joined by 15 Knox students. Together, Knox students and faculty will spend three and a half weeks living the life, working, and experiencing Chicago's culture. Students will explore the city’s sights, sounds, and culture while participating in internships tailored to their interests. During last year’s Chicago Term, students immersed themselves in their internships, but also the city’s history, culture, and neighborhoods.
The beloved Knox College for Kids summer enrichment program will be held on campus this summer from July 6 to July 17. The two-week summer enrichment program offers learning opportunities for youth (entering grades 1-8) that may not be available in their typical schooling contexts, and it provides instructors with opportunities to teach their passions. Current and retired College faculty, PK-12 educators, and community members teach as instructors. As Fellows, Knox College students welcome campers and escort participants to and from classes and around campus.
The Arts in Action course equips students to forge community partnerships for summer collaboration. Emerging artists collaborate with the Galesburg community for 10 weeks, discovering ways to extend their art beyond their studios. During the summer, students expand access to the arts and develop skills alongside community members.
Students apply their learning in the community and learn to lead discussions and reflection activities, highlighting the reciprocal nature of teaching and learning. These experiences show how we move from the artist-presenter role to authentic community engagement. Associate Professor of Dance Kathleen Ridlon will lead the program.
The Knox College Arts in Action 2026 community partners include Galesburg Community Art Center, Galesburg Public Library and Hawthorne Inn in Galesburg, Illinois.
The Knox Summer Scholars Program (formerly Artists, Scholars, Scientists, and Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow, or ASSET) recruits a cohort of roughly 12-20 students with a wide range of academic and career aspirations. Students pursue intensive individual projects and work together to identify connections across disciplines. Deepening their understanding of constructive dialogue across those boundaries is a key emphasis. While many in the program intend to pursue graduate education at some point, others may opt for a professional degree or enter a career directly after graduation.
Designed for students with some prior research experience, such as a collaborative or individual project, the program is a full-time commitment. Through the Richter Memorial Fund, students receive grants to research or create work during the academic year, winter break, or summer. Any student in any discipline may apply for Richter grants. Students are on campus almost all summer with the summer program beginning with an in-person, all-day seminar June 15-18. There will also be faculty-student lunches June 17 and 18.
Published on June 18, 2026
- Scott Holland, Knox College Office of Communications