Welcome Spring and Get Ready to Travel Again!
Many people see study abroad as a privilege enjoyed by upper-middle- and upper-class students. Students need more than financial resources to successfully study abroad. Students need support that helps them see value in travelling to distant places to learn, a flexibility of mind in facing unknown situations, and confidence in themselves to find their way amidst multiple unknowns.
As an undergraduate student, I never heard of study abroad and the scholarships that supported it. I was an immigrant who saw the purpose of education as strictly job preparation. I am now much older and, thankfully, wiser. Through the Congress- Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) scholarship (linked to the Young Professionals Program), my daughter then age 16 studied in Hanover, Germany during her junior year in high school. My family also hosted a CBYX German student (age 15) that year.
My daughter’s experience introduced her to learning physics and Spanish in German (not fun), playing flute with a community orchestra (more fun), and vacationing in Majorca, Spain and in the Alps with her two host families (really fun). My daughter returned home with conversational fluency in German, a new confidence in navigating the world, and a slew of international friends. Meanwhile, my German son created friendships at Central High school and vacationed with us at Disneyland and Warner Bros. Studies. He expressed awe in the size of our American fountain drinks, the array of food choices, the number of high school extracurricular opportunities, and the opportunity to attend a high school prom in particular. I truly enjoyed seeing American culture through fresh eyes. I have witnessed the power of studying abroad through the support of scholarships.
I am delighted that the WE Represent Program is offering a FREE virtual conference, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, which discusses the nuts and bolts of going abroad and the scholarships that support that experience. If you know nothing about such opportunities, this conference is designed for you! I wish to highlight the Gilman scholarship that funds study abroad experiences for those specifically on a Pell Grant. Please consider applying if you are eligible.
My NSPA team and I will start hosting a monthly Q & A session about national and international scholarship opportunities on the LAST Tuesday of each month at 2PM. Do join us and register if you have time!
Yee Han Chu PhD
Academic Support and Fellowship Opportunities Coordinator
We Represent will host a FREE Virtual Conference, March 10-12, 2021, for students (and staff/faculty) to learn more about the Gilman, Critical Language, Fulbright, and Boren International programs. This conference is designed for underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, students with disabilities, students in the LGBTQI+ community, and students from low-income backgrounds, but ANYONE can attend.
To REGISTER: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/we-represent-2021-virtual-international-exchange-conference-tickets-136340830093
UND Study Abroad-Fall 2021 Applications
Applications for Fall 2021 study abroad are now open. Interested in learning more? Join one of two virtual information sessions. Session one takes place on March 1 (register to attend). Session two takes place on March 9 (register to attend). Send questions in advance to UND.studyabroad@UND.edu.
The deadline for the Gilman Scholarship application has been extended to March 9!
Studying abroad is perhaps one of the most exhilarating, emotional and educational experiences you can have in college. Did you ever feel, however, that costs were an inhibiting factor? If you are a Federal Pell Grant recipient, consider applying for the U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship that will help fund your learning in far away and exciting places. The Gilman enables Pell Grant recipients to study or intern abroad through scholarship awards of up to $5,000.
The Gilman Scholarship has been successful in supporting students who have been historically underrepresented, including but not limited to first-generation college students, students in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields, ethnic minority students, students with disabilities, and students coming from U.S. states with less study abroad participation (like North Dakota!). The program aims to encourage students to study and intern in a diverse array of countries or areas and world regions that will provide them with skills critical to US national security and economic prosperity.
Please contact Emily Dougherty emily.dougherty@UND.edu), if you are interested in learning more about this scholarship and study abroad opportunities through UND. Gilman also has Alumni Ambassadors who can answer your questions: https://www.gilmanscholarship.org/alumni/alumni-ambassador-program/
Are you interested in a classroom environment that teaches you how to apply for national and international scholarships?
- Research Scholarship and Internship Opportunities
- Refine Professional and Academic Goals
- Write Personal Statements
- Answer Essay Prompts
- Develop a Plan to Become a Competitive Applicant
Enroll Now for Fall 2021 Instruction:
Columbia Hall B321D
M 4:40-6:40PM 2 Credits
Honors: A & S 294 Hon-03 (6151)
Non-Honors: A&S 294-02 (6152)
Yee Han Chu PhD MSSW & her NSPA Team
National Scholarship Peer Advisors:
Email: yee.chu@und.edu
Website: https://und.edu/academics/national-scholarships/
Location: Columbia Hall, Room B307 501 North Columbia Road, Stop 7187 Grand Forks, ND 58202-7187
Phone: (701)777-4436
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/108818960563786/posts/196605401785141/?d=n&substory_index=0
Twitter: @ourschool
