Hannah Tabor poses for a photo at the Leaning Tower of Pisa during her recent visit to Europe.
Hannah Tabor, age 18, flew for the first time ever on June 11, 2016. It was a trip, she had spent nearly a year working to earn the funds – which would allow her to fulfill a dream she had – to travel abroad. Hannah flew to Europe along with a group of fellow Jefferson City High School students, staff and residents from the Jefferson City Community. They traveled to Switzerland, France and Italy.
The group flew direct from Atlanta, GA, to Zurich, Switzerland. The group then, traveled to Lucerne, where the Swiss Alps rise behind the shores of Lake Lucerne.
They saw the moving Lion Monument – a sandstone statue commemorating the Swiss Guards slain in 1792. They walked on winding cobblestone streets to the Chapel Bridge – a bridge which dates back to medieval days. They also visited Mount Titlis.
From Switzerland, they traveled to Italy, through Verona to Venice, the Floating City, where they saw some of the world’s finest art and architecture. Hannah and friends took a gondola ride down the Grand Canal and enjoyed a guided tour of St. Mark’s Square.
They visited the 323 foot Campanile (Bell Tower) as well as the pink and white Doge’s Palace, where Venetian dukes once ruled. The group also enjoyed seeing a glass blowing demonstration, while in Venice. Next, they made their way to Rome and explored the Colosseum – a world famous arena where crowds once gathered for gladiatorial combat.
Not far away, they took in the Roman Forum – part of the Roman Empire where Julius Caesar gave many of his political speeches. Hannah was especially excited to visit the Vatican City. Seeing the Sistine Chapel ceiling and the magnificent work of Michelangelo was a definite highlight of this trip for Hannah. The group also visited St. Peter’s Basilica, Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon. From Rome, they traveled to Florence here they got to see many works of art like Michelangelo’s statue of David and Bortticelli’s The Birth of Venus. Additionally, they spent time in Pisa visiting the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Pisa Baptistery and the Pisa Cathedral.
From Pisa, they continued on to the French Riviera and toured a French perfume factory. Additionally, they enjoyed touring Monaco where the sightseers managed to spend a day on the beach, which was mostly rock rather than sand to their surprise.
With France being the final destination, they departed from Nice flying to New York to Atlanta and on to St. Louis where they took a MO-X shuttle to Jefferson City, arriving early morning on June 22. Everyone enjoyed this wonderful trip.
Hannah graduated from Jefferson City Public High School on May 15, 2016, with honors ranking within the top 7% of her class of approximately 500 students. She was awarded five Seals of Excellence in English, Orchestra, Social Studies, Spanish and Teaching Academy. Additionally, Hannah received the George Washington Carver Award, President’s Education Award; Herschel S. Freshnour College and Jefferson City/Missouri National Education Association (NEA) and Mayer awards.
Fall 2016 Hannah plans to attend Oklahoma Christian College and study Education and Spanish. She is the daughter of David and Gayla Tabor of Jefferson City, MO, and the granddaughter of Emmett and Maxine Phillips of Memphis, MO.