PORTSMOUTH — Shawnee State University is becoming known to universities around the world and has agreements with several where students can study abroad in an exchange program.

Students have been going to universities in Europe and China. Now, the Universidad Mayor in Santiago, Chile, has been added to the student’s choices.

Olivia Sadler, an international relations major and Spanish language minor, is the first student from Shawnee State to study in South America. She is a recipient of the Julia Coll and Frank Byrne Scholarship award and the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Award.

“I am in the International Service and Peace Corps Prep (ISPCPP) program and it is required that I have international experience,” Sadler said. “I have been studying Spanish since 2008 and I want to improve and master the language.”

Sadler has never been out of the country before but she has had experience working with people from different cultures, and she has studied to help prepare for studying abroad.

The Universidad Mayor campus is spread out across the city and students have to take buses to different classes.

“I’m both excited and nervous about going to Chile because I am the first student from SSU to go,” she said. “There is no student housing so I will be living with a host family.”

During her free time in Chile, Sadler plans to check out the local restaurants and go to the beach, only 1 1/2 hours from Santiago.

“I am really looking forward to the afternoon siestas too,” Sadler said.