Alexis Williams presents a stunning view, overlooking the Spanish city of Toledo. Alexis and other BVU students are studying Spanish for three weeks at the University of Salamanca, one of the oldest universities in the world.

Students listen to a presentation from Teresa Stuhr, catering manager for Sodexo as a part of their class, Event Planning & Management. Each student presents the planning details for an event using the tips and tricks they have learned.

Elementary Japanese students take a short break from learning Japanese grammar and pronunciation with two cultural activities - folding origami paper and trying on kimonos.

Despite the frigid weather, students in the January class "Managing Risk in Outdoor Recreation" used portable camping stoves to cook dishes such as pasta with vegetables, oatmeal, chili, and a beef stew-type concoction.

Senior Makensie Brown photographs a model during her January internship at Aaron Geller Photography in Toledo, Ohio. During the month-long internship, Makensie is practicing studio photography as well as photo retouching and marketing.

Amy Letsche demonstrates knapping techniques for students in her January class "BVU Survivor." Throughout the month, the class will make snowshoes and take field trips to experience geocaching (a modern outdoor scavenger hunt).

Students in Rev. Ken Meissner's class "Forgiveness" create self portraits during class as an exercise in personal reflection. The January class is studying forgiveness from psychological and theological perspectives.

The Undergraduate Rural Medicine Education and Development (URMED) program has selected two students for its January 2014 scholars program, and on Jan. 6 they participated in a white coat ceremony to begin their three-week internship.

Students and faculty on BVU's Global Fellows trip hiked the Cerro Bandera in Chile. The mountain is 1,834 meters high and the hike took two hours.

Two street performers in Prague take time to pose with Caitlin Hoffman during BVU's European Art and Culture Interim travel course. During the three-week trip, students and faculty will travel to six European countries.

BVU's school of education has implemented a Smart Technologies SMARTBoard system, which will be used by education majors to help them prepare for technology that might be available in their future classrooms.

It was another great year at Buena Vista University. See just a few of the great photos of academics, athletics and student life as we look back on 2013.

Buena Vista University has announced four new members have been named to the Board of Trustees. The Board works to develop policies and programs to help BVU provide a high-quality educational experience.

Buena Vista University student Shauna McKnight is doing her part to help girls get involved in math and science. Working with a Storm Lake fourth grade class, she recruited girls to take part in learning about algorithms.

Buena Vista University has announced that Phil Brown of North Oaks, Minn., has been elected to the Board of Trustees. He is a former executive of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies in the upper Midwest.