Skip to main content
Penn State Altoona
Report a Concern Give Visit Apply
  • Academics
    • Majors
    • Academic Calendar
    • Research and Engagement
    • Eiche Library
    • Registrar
    • Academic Advising
    • Honors Program
    • Out-of-Class Learning
    • New Student Orientation
    • Commencement
  • Admissions & Financial Aid
    • Visit Us
    • Admissions Overview
    • Information for First-Year Students
    • How to Apply
    • Accepted Students
    • Find Your Admissions Counselor
    • Tuition and Financial Aid Resources
    • Financial Aid Basics
    • Tuition and Costs
  • Student Success
    • Student Success Center
    • The Help Tool
    • Tutoring
    • Student Affairs
    • Student and Civic Engagement
    • Health and Wellness
    • Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
    • Safety at Penn State Altoona
    • Career Services
    • Eiche Library
  • Information For
    • Prospective Students
    • Transfer Students
    • Current Students
    • International Students
    • High School Dual Enrollment Program
    • Faculty & Staff
    • Alumni
    • Parents & Families
    • Professional Development
    • Visitors
Full site navigation menu

This dialog contains the full navigation menu for this site.

Penn State Altoona
Enter the terms you wish to search for.
Search type:
Report a Concern Give Visit Apply
  • This is Penn State Altoona
    • Welcome from the Chancellor
    • Penn State Altoona At a Glance
    • Mission, Vision, and Values
    • College Leadership
    • Our History
    • Campus Map
    • Current Weather Conditions
    • Livestream
  • Academics
    • Majors
    • Academic Calendar
    • Out-of-class Learning
    • Eiche Library
    • Registrar
    • Academic Advising
    • Honors Program
    • Campus Closures
  • Admissions
    • Visit Us
    • Information for First-Year Students
    • How to Apply
    • Accepted Students
    • Find Your Admissions Counselor
    • Experience Altoona
    • Virtual Tour
  • Tuition and Financial Aid
    • Scholarships and Awards
    • Grants
    • Loans
    • Work-study
    • Financial Aid Basics
    • Tuition and Costs
    • Financial Aid Information
  • Student Success
    • Student Success Center
    • The Help Tool
    • Tutoring
    • Student Affairs
    • Student Leadership and Involvement
    • Health and Wellness Center
    • Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
    • Internships
    • Safety at Penn State Altoona
    • Study Abroad/Study Away
  • Research and Engagement
    • Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry
    • Faculty Research Resources
    • Internal Grants and Awards
  • Athletics
    • Schedule
    • Facilities
    • Recreation and Club Sports
    • Staff and Coaches Directory
    • Athletic Training and Sports Physicals
    • Athletics News
    • Camps and Clinics
    • Hall of Fame

Find Information For:

  • Prospective Students
  • Transfer Students
  • Current Students
  • International Students
  • High School Dual Enrollment Program
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Alumni
  • Parents & Families
  • Professional Development
  • Visitors

Helpful Links

  • Campus Map
  • Academic Calendar
  • Campus Calendar
  • Community Calendar
  • Student Success Center
  • The Help Tool
  • Faculty & Staff Directory
  • Offices and Divisions
  • Employment Opportunities

Connect With Us

  • facebook
  • instagram
  • youtube
  • linkedin
  • tiktok
  1. Home
  2. Student Success
  3. Student Success Center
  4. Study Away
  5. Past Programs
Scenes from Rome, Florence, and Zurich

Sheetz Fellows in Europe: Italy and Switzerland

March 1–10, 2024


This program, designed for the Sheetz Fellows program at Penn State Altoona, focuses on how entrepreneurial ventures differ from country to country and how these ventures compete not only locally but globally.

Students will learn the following:

  • How to respond quickly to an evolving market
  • Familiarity with international standards, laws, and regulations
  • Differences in leadership styles from culture to culture
  • How to manage a diverse team
  • Differences in startups between the United States and Europe

Academic Requirements

  • Available to Penn State Altoona third- and fourth-year students who have been inducted into the Sheetz Fellows Program
  • In-major GPA of 3.25 or higher
  • Satisfactory completion of the study abroad orientation and preparatory meetings
  • Writing a daily blog while abroad
  • Waiver and release of liability must be signed
  • Your judicial and academic records will be checked as part of the registration process
  • Contact Donna Bon at [email protected]

Program Costs

$4663–$5000
Program costs vary depending on the number of participants and exchange rates.

Costs include the following:

  • Eight nights of hotel stays
  • In-country public and private transportation
  • Daily breakfast at hotel, four lunches and five dinners
  • Itinerary Includes the following:
    • Three days in Rome
      • Tours of Colosseum, Forum, and Palatine Hill
      • Tours of Vatican City Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica
      • Walking tour of Rome
      • Interactive Company Visit: The Legacy of Luxury: Balancing Tradition with Innovation
      • Pasta Making Class
    • Two days in Florence
      • Walking tour of Florence
      • Vivoli and Gelato Tasting Tours
      • Winery and Olive Oil Tour – Medici Villa of Lilliano Wine Estate
      • Interactive Company Visit: The Italian Consumer: Market Trends and the Influence of Culture on the Consumer Economy
    • Three days in Zurich
      • Walking tour of Zurich
      • Interactive Company Visit: Hospitality and Tourism in a Changing Landscape
      • Interactive Company Visit: Switzerland’s Global Role: Opportunities and Challenges
      • Lindt Chocolate Museum / House of Chocolate Visit
      • Zurich Dinner Cruise

Other expenses include the following:

  • Airfare: $1108
  • Passport: $165
  • Personal expenses: $150–300

Registration Process and Deadlines

  • November 30, 2023—Register for the program online
  • January 12, 2024—Complete forms on Canvas
  • February 1
    • Complete Global Programs Canvas Pre-departure requirement
    • Complete Travel Safety Network online requirements

Program Leaders

Donna Bon

Director, Sheetz Fellows Program
Donna Bon has been with Penn State Altoona since 2004. She holds a Bachelor of Science in both marketing and management and a Master of Business Administration. She has been the director of the Sheetz Fellows since its inception. Bon has accompanied Sheetz Fellows on every study abroad experience.

Paul Cooney

Professor of Practice, Entrepreneurship
Paul Cooney became an adjunct faculty member at Penn State Altoona in 2013 teaching entrepreneurship classes. He is a graduate of Penn State with a B.S. in Finance. Cooney has traveled with the Sheetz Fellows on previous study abroad experiences.

Donna Bon headshot

Donna Bon

Associate Teaching Professor, Entrepreneurship
Director, Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Leadership
[email protected]
814-949-5294
Sheetz Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence, 202
Paul M. Cooney

Paul M. Cooney

Professor of Practice, Entrepreneurship
[email protected]
Sheetz Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence, 202C

Study Away

  • Upcoming Programs
    • Alternative Spring Break: Community Collaborations International (CCI) Puerto Rico Project
    • Nursing: Impacting Community Wellness in a Developing Country (Panama)
    • London Calling: Ordering the World
  • Past Programs
    • Environment and Culture in Costa Rica
    • Hope Partners Costa Rica
    • Intercultural Studies in Ecuador
    • Ireland: Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship
    • Maymester in Mexico
    • Motorheads: Engineering Program in Southern Germany
    • Penn State Altoona Nursing Program in Cuba
    • Sheetz Fellows in Europe: Italy and Switzerland
    • Women's Soccer in Costa Rica
  • Study Away Grants and Scholarships
  • Support Penn State Altoona’s Study Abroad Programs

Study Away

Beth Seymour
Study Away Coordinator
125E Eiche Library
814-949-5335
[email protected]

Victoria Hesser
Program Assistant
125D Eiche Library
814-949-5212
[email protected]

Study Away Grants and Scholarships
Find Out More
Pennsylvania map showing Penn State's campuses with Penn State Altoona highlighted

Penn State Altoona

A full-service, four-year, residential campus located less than 45 miles from the research campus at University Park. Offering 21 four-year degrees and the first two years of over 275 Penn State majors.
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • youtube
  • linkedin
  • tiktok
Give Visit Apply
  • This is Penn State Altoona
    • Welcome from the Chancellor
    • Penn State Altoona At a Glance
    • Mission, Vision, and Values
    • College Leadership
    • Our History
    • Campus Map
    • Current Weather Conditions
    • Livestream
  • Academics
    • Majors
    • Academic Calendar
    • Out-of-Class Learning
    • Eiche Library
    • Registrar
    • Academic Advising
    • Honors Program
    • Campus Closures
  • Admissions
    • Visit Us
    • Information for First-Year Students
    • How to Apply
    • Accepted Students
    • Find Your Admissions Counselor
    • Experience Altoona
    • Virtual Tour
  • Tuition & Financial Aid
    • Scholarships and Awards
    • Grants
    • Loans
    • Work-study
    • Financial Aid Basics
    • Tuition and Costs
    • Financial Aid Information
  • Student Success
    • Student Success Center
    • The Help Tool
    • Tutoring
    • Student Affairs
    • Student and Civic Engagement
    • Health and Wellness Center
    • Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
    • Safety at Penn State Altoona
    • Career Services
    • Eiche Library
  • Research & Engagement
    • Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry
    • Faculty Research Resources
    • Internships
    • Study Abroad/Study Away
    • Internal Grants and Awards
  • Athletics
    • Schedule
    • Facilities
    • Recreation and Club Sports
    • Staff and Coaches Directory
    • Athletic Training and Sports Physicals
    • Athletics News
    • Camps and Clinics
    • Hall of Fame
  • Stay Connected
    • Faculty and Staff Directory
    • Offices and Divisions
    • Campus Calendar
    • PSUAlert Text Messaging Service
    • Penn State Altoona Connect
    • Penn State Go App
    • Penn State Student Engagement Network
Penn State University
3000 Ivyside Park, Altoona, Pennsylvania 16601 814-949-5000

Footer Legal Menu

  • Privacy
  • Non-discrimination
  • Accessibility
  • Copyright
  • Directory
  • The Pennsylvania State University © 2025
  • We Are Penn State