LEWISTON – Christina M. Rivard of Auburn and Melissa A. Simones of Greene are participating in the Bates College Semester Abroad program.

Rivard is in the Colby-Bates-Bowdoin off-campus study in Cape Town, South Africa. Simones is in the Bates Fall Semester Program in Germany.

Students at Bates have the option of taking a semester of full year in a foreign country. Both provide opportunities to study and conduct research at their choice of hundreds of colleges and universities throughout the world.

According to Associate Dean of Students Stephen Sawyer, program director, the experience serves to enhance students’ college careers by offering opportunities to live in other cultures and speak other languages.

Some students at Bates enroll independently at the foreign university of their choice, while others choose foreign-study programs through other accredited American colleges.

Rivard, a dean’s list student, is the daughter of Gilbert and Elaine Rivard of Auburn. A 2001 graduate of Edward Little High School, she was on the women’s outdoor track team from 2001 to 2004 and participated in women’s cross country at Bates. Rivard spent her 2004 winter semester in Washington, D.C.

Simones is the daughter of James and Linda Simones. She is a 2002 graduate of Leavitt Area High School in Turner.