Student volunteers in Thailand with veterinary groups

Posted August 12, 2016Communications and Marketing Department

GREENVILLE, Pa.—Thiel College student Camille Radford ’18, of Baltimore, recently spent two weeks in Thailand caring for elephants and other animals. As part of a veterinary training program, Radford and other volunteers learned about the treatment of dogs, rabbits, cats, water buffalo and elephants.

Radford—a biology and English major at Thiel—is a 2013 graduate of Baltimore City College High School. She traveled to Thailand with the Boston-based group Loop Abroad. Their veterinary service program takes college students overseas to learn alongside local veterinarians from two different shelters in Thailand.      

In the first week, students volunteered at the Animal Rescue Kingdom dog shelter in Chiang Mai, Thailand—a facility that houses more than 100 rescued dogs. The group then spent the second week at the Elephant Nature Park in northern Thailand to work with pachyderms and learn about animal rescue and conservation. The Elephant Nature Park is home to more than 40 elephants that have been rescued from trekking, logging or forced breeding programs. Students feed, bathe and care for the animals, as well as learn to diagnose them alongside an elephant vet. The park is sustained by weekly volunteers like Radford from all around the globe.

 “Being over 20 hours away from home and put into a different culture was incredible,” Radford said. “I grew up in those two weeks away and became a more aware person. Going to Thailand opened my eyes to everything I took for granted in the states. I would not hesitate to go overseas again because it's the most life changing experience I have ever had.”


About Thiel College

Thiel College is an independent college founded in the Lutheran tradition. Located in Greenville, Pa., the College offers 60 majors and minors, 24 varsity sports, and an 11:1 student-faculty ratio. The College is also home to a new Master of Science in speech-language pathology and 2Master of Business Administration. Both master’s degree programs offer innovative and accelerated five-year paths which allow students to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years. The speech-language pathology program also has an accelerated 15-month graduate-level program. The M.B.A. program also has a 12-month post-graduate program.A dedicated faculty paired with dynamic research and internship opportunities produce numerous graduate school and job placements. Coeducational from its beginnings, the College remains committed to combining tradition with innovation as it celebrates 150 years.



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Greenville, PA 16125
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