As final exams officially come to an end this week, U.T. students are packing up their dorm rooms and apartments and looking ahead to a summer of work, fun and more classes.                  

Some students will spend their summer at home, while others, like sophomore Kelley McDonough, will travel the world.

For McDonough, the summer begins with a trip to Greece accompanied by 20 other U.T. students. The trip is part of a three-week study abroad in Greece that will earn the students credit for Social Psychology 360.

She said she is looking forward to experiencing a new culture.

"It's Greece, and who wouldn't want to go to Greece?" McDonough said. "I want to do something exciting this summer, and this trip wasn't too long or too short. It was perfect. Honestly, I'm most worried about fitting everything for a month in a 40 lb. bag."

For McDonough, the trip is more than a vacation with friends. Traveling to Greece means discovering her roots and heritage.

"I want to see where my great-grandfather was born and learn the traditions of (my) past," she said.

After completing the three-week course, McDonough and several other students will stay and travel to Rome before returning to the United States.

Studying abroad is not the only activity preoccupying U.T. students' summer break. Many students will stay in Knoxville to take summer courses. These students hope to get ahead in their hours by taking the summer classes.

Sophomore Megan Spoone is one of the many staying in Knoxville to complete summer courses. She is registered to take Organic Chemistry and Biology 140 during the two summer sessions.

"I'm not really looking forward to taking these two classes this summer but it will help me from getting behind in my hours. It will also be easier to focus on these more difficult classes during the summer," Spoone said.

Spoone will also make a trip to New York City to attend her cousin's graduation from New York University. Her trip will consist of attending the graduation ceremony, seeing a Broadway show and shopping in the New York City area.

As most college students know, internships are an important aspect of one's college career. Students have found themselves left with little vacation time because of internships they have taken.

Public Relations major, Katie Bennett is participating in an internship this summer that she has been working with all year. Bennett's internship is with the Marketing Department of the Knoxville Museum of Art in Knoxville. She handles communications and public relations within this department.

"I love it. It's the best experience to prepare me for the real world," she said.

Bennett hopes to gain real world experience from this internship and the ability to apply all she has learned in her classes.

A constant for all students is the excitement found in returning home to visit family and friends. For many, this is a vacation in itself.

Aside from school-related activities, several students are taking the necessary vacation with friends. As always, the vacation spot of choice is the beach. Students will be spread across the United States to enjoy the typical retreat while on their summer break.