The first Study Abroad program in the Holy Land sponsored by the Department of Travel Study was conducted during the 1968 year. It involved 20 students, and Daniel H. Ludlow was the director. This area became one of prime importance to this department, both for regular travel tours and for student semester abroad programs,and as an impetus leading to the construction of the BYU Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies
The headquarters for the 1968 program were in the Ritz Hotel. Dan Ludlow arranged for the group of twenty students to make educational stops in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Cyprus before even landing in Israel. On the way home, the group toured and learned about Athens and Rome, according to historical records. The experience was more than four months. The students left the US on January 27, 1968 and the students returned from London in Luene’s care on June 7th. Sandwiched between the long stays in Jerusalem and the beginning and ending of the program were six weeks in Galilee for studying the New Testament Gospels and a week in Beersheba for studying the Old Testament Patriarchs. Dan taught everything. The program was a great success.
A “traveling branch” of the church was organized, with Ralph Benson serving as Branch President. Special thanks to Ralph and Louise Benson for providing the materials for this page.
If you were part of the inaugural group in 1968, please send us any additional stories, group photos or memory books. Email these to stories@byujerusalemalumni.com
If a Facebook group exists for 1968, please send us the link so that we can help you connect with others from your semester.
Students from the 1968 Semester:
Elizabeth Allen – Provo Utah
Ralph Benson – Seattle Washington
Roberta L. Bosley – Corrine, Utah
Diane K. Carter – Seattle, Washington
Nelson Carter – Lund, Nevada
Mary Demsher – Canby, Oregon
Johns Ellsworth – Las Vegas, Nevada
Meredith Embry – Provo, Utah
Jennie Ferguson – Orinda, California
David Handy – Sierra Madre, California
Johnny Hansen – Ogden, Utah
Neil L. Johnson – San Mateo, California
David Lauritzen – Hacienda Heights, California
“Bill” William Misener – Pomona, California
Rhonda Nanney – St. Anthony, Idaho
Randall Scott – Dayton, Ohio
Terry Shepherd – Claremont, New Hampshire
Laraine Stucki – Paris, Idaho
Kathryn Truman – Minersville, Utah
Jean Waldrop – LaGrande, Oregon
Schedule and Semester Journal
