NEW ORLEANS (February 8, 2017) — The National WWII Museum today announced two distinct student travel programs that allow high school and college students the opportunity to earn college credit while exploring the leadership lessons and real-life decision-making scenarios of World War II. Both Normandy Academy and Student Leadership Academy will provide students with an unique educational journey that challenges them to learn from choices made during the WWII era.

The Museum will travel abroad with the leaders of tomorrow during Normandy Academy—an immersive, multifaceted educational voyage that challenges students to consider the impactful choices WWII officers and soldiers faced during the historic D-Day invasions. Students begin in New Orleans, where Andrew Higgins designed and manufactured Higgins boats, and finish in Normandy, France, where those boats landed and helped the Allies surge to triumph in World War II. Along the way, students will visit Omaha Beach, Sainte-Mère-Église and the Normandy American Cemetery, among other sites.

Normandy Academy—which takes place from June 13 through 24 for college students and June 19 through 30 for those in high school—offers a college-credit option administered by Nicholls State University, an accredited regional university.

Taking place from July 16 through July 22, Student Leadership Academy pairs online learning with a behind-the-scenes experience at the Museum’s New Orleans campus. This six-night, seven-day program immerses students in the institution’s wealth of exhibits, artifacts, images and documents with structured leadership lesson debates along the way. Students will feel what it is like to be a member of a five-man crew inside a Sherman Tank, inspect the flight logs of a bomber pilot and handle the gear of an infantryman in World War II. Participants will also continually revisit the theme of “what World War II means today,” relating the lessons of the war to their own lives and the world around them.

“Exposing students to the accomplishments of the WWII generation is the Museum’s primary focus,” said Nathan Huegen, the Museum’s director of educational travel. “Upon completing these programs, we hope that today’s generation will leave with a deeper understanding of WWII history, as well as knowledge of the skills exhibited by some of our nation’s greatest leaders as they made decisions that would alter the future of the world.”

For Normandy Academy information and registration, visit http://www.ww2museumtours.org/student-travel/normandy-academy.php.

For Student Leadership Academy information and registration, visit http://www.ww2museumtours.org/student-travel/student-leadership-academy.php.

The National WWII Museum tells the story of the American experience in the war that changed the world—why it was fought, how it was won, and what it means today. Dedicated in 2000 as The National D-Day Museum and now designated by Congress as America's National WWII Museum, it celebrates the American Spirit, teamwork, optimism, courage, and sacrifice of the men and women who served on the battlefront and the Home Front. For more information, call 877-813-3329 or 504-528-1944 or visit nationalww2museum.org. Follow us on Twitter at WWIImuseum or on Facebook.