» By LORI PERKINS – lperkins@my.apsu.edu

APSU has parterned with Texas-based travel company Beyond Group Travel Inc., known for “specializing in custom groups and events.” Together, they are offering alumni, faculty, students, friends and family a trip to New York, our nation’s largest city, along with President Tim Hall and his wife from May 16-20, 2012.

All attendees will stay in a luxurious, four-star hotel on Broadway Street in historic Manhattan. The trip will also include tours of the New York Stock Exchange and Ground Zero and the opportunity to experience the Broadway musical, “Jersey Boys.” Tim Leszczak, professor of Health Human and Performance, once a resident of New York, will help with the tour guide.

The event is hosted by the alumni office as a way for APSU alumni to come together, network and enjoy an inexpensive getaway. “APSU works hard to keep our alumni connected to the university, since their continued support is so important to the university’s future. We try to get them to various events here at the university and also try to arrange occasions where we can share exciting experiences with them. The alumni office’s scheduled trip to New York City is an example of one of the ways we seek to continue with our alumni,” President Hall said.

APSU will offer domestic and international trips every year. “Springtime in New York” is the first domestic trip. “We just started this past summer in July, we went to Greece. It was extremely successful,” said Nikki Peterson, director of the Office of Alumni Relations. APSU makes traveling more affordable and convenient because of the group discounts. However, airfare prices are not included in the package deal of $2,449.00 per person, but Beyond Group Travel Inc. will find the lowest rate possible. “It may sound expensive, but you have to look at what you’re getting,” Peterson said.

Future international and domestic trips will include Chicago, Germany, Colorado, Austrailia, Savannah, Ireland and Paris, just to name a few. “We are not here to raise money, but just to allow opportunities for alumni and supporters to get together as a group, connect as APSU supporters and to have a good time,” Peterson said.

So far, there are 10 to 12 participants. The suggested deadline for deposits is the end of October, but there may still be openings available at that time. Those interested are encouraged to RSVP as soon as possible. Because trip insurance is available, payments are refundable.

For more information, contact Nikki Peterson at 221-7291 or petersonn@apsu.edu. TAS