Since 1994, Harding University in Greece (HUG) has given Harding students a unique opportunity to experience life, history, and culture all while studying in the Mediterranean world. Located just outside of Athens, the HUG campus is where the students call home for their three-month stay.
Meet the director and his family on this Facebook post.
Meet the director and his family on this Facebook post.
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Dr. Clay BeasonDr. Beason is the director for the HUG program. Part of the Harding University family for 19 years, Dr. Beason purposefully leads us all spiritually and academically, keeping us healthy and focused on Jesus. As every HUG student knows, Dr. Beason wants us to learn through Paul's writings, and he challenges the HUGers to live and love as Christ loves us. His leadership makes us all feel prepared, cared for, and blessed.
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Loren BeasonMrs. Loren is the second half of the directorship at HUG. She is a professional counselor and brings that knowledge and experience to the HUG campus. To our students, she is also a mom, teacher, nurse, friend, and an encourager. Mrs. Loren pushes the HUGers to focus outward and to embrace the new culture while they are abroad. She takes 24-hour care of the HUG students with love, laughing with them and at herself along the way.
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Ann-Clayton BeasonA-C is like a younger sister to our students. She fills the campus with piano music, laughter, and kindness. A-C is a helper when students ask, and listener when students talk, and an immediate friend when students arrive at HUG each semester. Her gentle insight is always true and you're lucky if you catch a seat next to her at lunch to hear her witty and silly comments.
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Silas HeffleySilas is the assistant to the director at HUG. He helps students with multiple items. He is a friend and a big brother who seemingly has all the answers to the students' questions and needs. Silas is a special friend of the Beasons - he's become more like family, really. Always available to joke and talk, Silas serves the students with grace and patience and always embraces every task at hand with a work ethic that is an example to all who know and love him.
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Mietek KuzniarskiMietek is the man in charge of campus grounds and maintenance at HUG. He keeps the campus in good shape and can fix absolutely anything. Mietek has worked at Harding for 18 years and works to keep us safe and to keep our campus beautiful. He has the heart of a servant and is the behind-the-scenes type of guy who wants no credit but deserves much.
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Vicky TsakouVicky is the HUG administrative assistant and Greek teacher. She is the face of welcome to people in our town who knock on our campus front door and is always available to help faculty or students with directions or to answer any questions about Athens. At HUG for 18 years, Vicky is a bundle of joy who brightens the day for everyone who lives on campus.
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Yianna SouliotiYianna is the lady in charge of the cleanliness of the building and of the students' laundry. She spoils us with her perfect t-shirt folds and her sweet hugs and kisses. Yianna loves God and has spoken of His blessings with the HUG students and staff every day for 18 years. Receiving a "Σε αγαπώ" ("I love you") from Yianna is a special gift to us all.
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Natasa TsirbasNatasa is the cook at our HUG campus. She shows her care for our students through her cooking and shares her talents in the kitchen so well. Natasa is in her fifth year at HUG. She has three children of her own who come to campus often in the summertime when they are home in Greece from Harding's campus in Searcy, so it's natural and fun for Natasa to be with college-aged students around a table somewhere on campus right after lunchtime sharing stories.
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Bella Rose BeasonBella is the most loving of us all. The best listener in the universe, she makes the students feel like the campus' host-family is complete and shares her calm, relaxed attitude with all students and staff. She is on the top of everyone's list and isn't boastful about it one little bit. No wonder furry Bella receives attention and love all day long!
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During a semester at HUG, we travel all throughout Greece. We have a trip to the Peloponnese region. This takes the students to sites such as Corinth, Mycenae, Epidaurus, Nafplion, and Olympia; we have the opportunity to ski on this excursion during the spring semester. We also take a trip to Northern Greece. On that trip we see Delphi, Berea, Vergina, Thessaloniki, Philippi, and Mount Olympus. We get to climb this mountain in the summer and the fall semesters. Finally, we round out our Greek experience by chilling on a Greek Island. Conveniently, our campus is just a short walk from the beach!
While we love our home in Greece, HUG is much more than one country. Groups often take trips to Israel, Italy, Cyprus, and occasionally even Egypt! Seeing all of these countries, sites, and cultures firsthand helps bring the class time alive. The places and events are no longer just words and pictures on a page; each student has his or her own distinct experience and memories of these places.
It’s a busy but life-changing semester! It’s where the bible, history, and mythology all meet. And it's where our focus purposefully turns outward. It's time. The entire ancient world is our classroom, and we are loving every step we take!
While we love our home in Greece, HUG is much more than one country. Groups often take trips to Israel, Italy, Cyprus, and occasionally even Egypt! Seeing all of these countries, sites, and cultures firsthand helps bring the class time alive. The places and events are no longer just words and pictures on a page; each student has his or her own distinct experience and memories of these places.
It’s a busy but life-changing semester! It’s where the bible, history, and mythology all meet. And it's where our focus purposefully turns outward. It's time. The entire ancient world is our classroom, and we are loving every step we take!