The Tribune

A GROUP of 22 students and two chaperones from Drake University took advantage of a unique opportunity to get out of the classroom setting in Des Moines, Iowa and travel to the Bahamas.

They came aboard the Liberty Clipper to experience the country’s natural beauty and interact with the people of the Bahamas.

The visit is part of Drake University’s Leadership at Sea Programme, a blend of classroom and experiential learning focused on leadership development, team building, and seamanship.

The course features sailing in the Bahamas aboard the tall-mast schooner Liberty Clipper, a US Coast Guard licensed 125-foot gaff-rigged schooner.

The ship serves as a leadership laboratory enabling students to rotate through ship positions and attend sessions with captain and crew.

While at sea, the itinerary includes exploration throughout the Family Islands, kayaking, snorkelling, and small craft sailing.

On Thursday, January 17, the students had the opportunity to visit the US Embassy in Nassau where they met with Charg� d’Affaires John Dinkelman, who outlined the important role that the US Mission plays in the Bahamas.

The Charg� also highlighted the strong bilateral friendship shared by the US and the Bahamas in promoting issues of mutual interest.

He encouraged the students to consider the Foreign Service as a career, adding that it is a rewarding job that opens the door to the world and its many cultures.

The students also learned about the role of the United States Coast Guard (USCG), particularly in the area of search and rescue, during an interactive presentation led by USCG Lt Junior Grade Officer Bryce Dehart.

He also discussed the vast improvements in migrant interdiction, border protection, and counter-narcotics efforts since the establishment in the 1980s of the joint regional law enforcement partnership known as Operation Bahamas Turks and Caicos or OPBAT.

While in Nassau, the students will also meet with Bahamian government officials, taste Bahamian cuisine at the popular Fish Fry on Arawak Cay and participate in a walking tour through historic Nassau.

The students volunteered in both the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure and the Bahamas Marathon last weekend.