Eighteen University of Wisconsin–Madison students studying abroad through International Academic Programs (IAP) have been awarded scholarships from CIEE, a leading provider of international educational experiences. Applied to upcoming summer and fall programs, these awards will cover a combined total of $30,500.
Fifteen of the awardees received CIEE’s Global Access Initiative (GAIN) Scholarship, two have received the Robert B. Bailey Scholarship and one received a John E. Bowman Travel Grant.
This funding will help support students who will be studying language, culture and other specialized topics around the globe – in Ghana, Chile, the Czech Republic, Jordan, China and France. Individual scholarship amounts ranged from $1,000 to $2,500.
CIEE (formerly called Council on International Educational Exchange) is a non-profit, non-governmental international exchange organization that develops and administers programs, advocates for the advancement of international education, and build knowledge through research, publications, and conferences. For over 60 years, CIEE’s mission has been “to help people gain understanding, acquire knowledge, and develop skills for living in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world.”
Three scholarship recipients will be studying political science and social welfare at the University of Ghana.
“I am honored to be a recipient of a scholarship from CIEE and am very grateful for their support, which will help me fund my trip to Ghana,” says Tera Holtz, a senior from Manawa, WI. “I have chosen to study abroad in Ghana this fall because of the developmental studies track and internships available through the program. I am very excited to explore the amazing country and culture!”
IAP has financial advisers to assist students who are interested in learning more about scholarships and funding for their study abroad experience. More information on financial planning can be found online.
CIEE allocates $1 million each year for study abroad grants and scholarships. The GAIN scholarships started in summer 2012 to promote diversity by providing opportunities for all students to study abroad, including those with economic constraints and those pursuing underrepresented fields of study.
“I’m so grateful to be able to study with CIEE, which would not have been possible without the financial aid of the GAIN Scholarship,” says Emma Lawson, a senior from Jeffersonville, VT, majoring in Chinese.
Lawson received a $2,000 GAIN scholarship for an academic year in Shanghai. After studying Mandarin for approximately four years, she is looking forward to pursuing a local dialect, Shanghainese.
Excited to participate in home-stays and travel to rural areas to enrich her language learning experience, Lawson says, “The scholarship affects what I’m able to do while I’m there.”
by Erin Luhmann