The Wisconsin International Scholars (WISc) Program offers a unique enrichment program for undergraduates at UW–Madison. Designed for students across all academic disciplines, this program aims to attract those looking to infuse their studies with an international dimension. Participants in WISc engage in a shared core curriculum, actively join internationally-focused gatherings and activities, and benefit from study abroad grants that extend their learning experiences globally.
A celebratory atmosphere filled a recent gathering as students, staff, and faculty came together to mark the academic year’s conclusion and honor the newest graduating class of WIScholars. Adding their voices to the occasion, senior class speakers Sydney Kurszewski and Denni Cevilla both spoke at the ceremony, reflecting on the “hope in action” that defines the WISc program. The ceremony held a dual purpose: commemorating the graduating class and acknowledging excellence through various awards.
One significant component of the WISc program is its commitment to international experiences, underscored by the WISc Travel Grant Awards. These grants support students who have fulfilled program requirements, enabling them to participate in study abroad programs. In the summer and upcoming academic year, 14 students will leverage these grants for programs in locations such as Kazakhstan, Spain, Taiwan, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Mexico, South Korea, and Washington D.C.
Further recognizing student dedication, the WISc Leadership Awards were presented to sophomore, junior, and senior students who demonstrated consistent and significant engagement in WISc events and programming throughout the academic year. This year’s recipients—Joely Emerson, Katie Mastorides, Sophia Pringle, Henry Barone, Rojaan Koupaei-Abyazani, Jack Rogers, and Sascha Krause—were celebrated for their active involvement.
Lastly, the WISc Distinguished Scholar Awards honored students who have made outstanding positive contributions to the WISc community and beyond, distinguishing themselves through exceptional scholarship, leadership, and service. The 2025 recipients of this award, Angeline Morgado, Diego Miranda-Gandarilla, Hailey Shevitz, Sydney Kurszewski, and Aayana Roy, each embody the spirit of the WISc program.
With the spring semester drawing to a close, many WIScholars look forward to graduating and carrying their commitment to global citizenship into various fields such as engineering, environmental economics, nursing, business, public policy, and medicine. Read more on our 2025 WISc graduates and their exciting future plans:
Denni Cevilla
Majors: Legal studies; Spanish
Languages: Spanish, Italian
What’s next? Obtaining my Master of Public Affairs (MPA) at UW’s La Follette School, with plans to apply to their dual degree program with the Wisconsin Law School.
Sarah Grady
Majors: Finance, investment and banking
Languages: Mandarin Chinese
Study Abroad: Hong Kong University Science & Tech Exchange; IES University of London; University College Dublin Internship
What’s next? Working as an internal audit analyst at JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Sydney Kurszewski
Majors: Russian; international studies
Languages: Russian, Polish, French
Study Abroad: Almaty, Kazakhstan
What’s next? Kazakhstan for my capstone year to finish the Russian Flagship Program and then maybe graduate school for Slavic studies.
Elbert Song
Majors: Marketing; international business
Languages: Korean, English, Chinese, French
Study Abroad: IES Paris Business & International Affairs
What’s next? Moving back home to Arizona to continue the job search.
Raines Lucas
Majors: Mathematics; economics
Languages: Chinese
What’s next? Continuing my research while touring with my band across the U.S., Canada, Europe, and China! Further down the line, I intend on attending graduate school for environmental economics.
Daniel Molina
Majors: Economics; Italian
Languages: Spanish; Italian
Study Abroad: Bocconi University Exchange Italy
What’s next? Summer data analysis internship at Universidad de Castilla – La Mancha and then one extra semester at UW.
Melisa Erman
Majors: Computer engineering; computer science
Languages: Spanish, Turkish, Italian, Japanese
Study Abroad: Singapore Exchange; Worldwide Internship Program – Madrid, Spain
What’s next? Currently searching for my next career pursuit.
Najma Hurre
Majors: Nursing; information science
Languages: Arabic
Study Abroad: University College Dublin Nursing; UW Global Gateway Singapore
What’s next? Attending graduate school and completing a nursing residency.
Charles Lenz
Major: Chemistry
Languages: Spanish
What’s next? Medical school at the UW–Madison School of Medicine and Public Health.
Cecilia Dennis
Majors: International studies; Economics
Language: French
Study Abroad: Paris
What’s next? Spending the summer in Potsdam, Germany, with my grandfather!