UW students going abroad in 2015 get encouragement, awards

UW–Madison students preparing to embark on a variety of international experiences in the coming months received words of encouragement and financial support at the spring 2015 International Studies Scholarship Award Ceremony on April 23, at the Gordon Dining and Event Center. The event – hosted by the University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of International Studies, International Internship Program, and International Academic Programs – brought together students, parents, donors, UW faculty and staff. Nearly $325,000 in scholarships was awarded to more than 140 students who will be traveling abroad for academic programs, in addition to grants awarded for internships. Related: Grants, awards provide boost for UW students headed overseas for internships IAP Director Dan Gold, who served as emcee for the event, praised the generosity of donors: “It’s clear that scholarships serve students by removing financial barriers to study abroad, but they also do much more. These scholarships pave the way for students from underrepresented populations to access a global education that may have otherwise been out of reach.” Gold adds, “We also encourage scholarship recipients to complete ‘share your experience’ projects upon their return to Madison, so when these students return home they’re ambassadors for cultural exchange and international learning here on campus.” Associate Dean Richard Keller gave welcoming remarks on behalf of the Division of International Studies. Sarah K.A. Pfatteicher, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, described how her son’s foray into international experiences went from reluctance to exuberance. Also, two UW–Madison students who went abroad last summer – Rebecca Wanta, to Cambodia, and Justine Jones, to Ecuador – spoke about their experiences. On Flickr: Photos from the awards ceremony Here are the scholarship descriptions and recipients recognized at the spring 2014 ceremony: The Cerk Family Fund for Study Abroad, established by Norman J. and Heewon B. Cerk, to support undergraduate study abroad experiences. Norman (B.A. ‘94 in political science) regards his study abroad experience as a UW–Madison student as a factor in his success.
  • Recipients, both going abroad fall 2015: Tiana Jacobs, of Mount Pleasant, WI, going to Spain; Val Lam, of Eau Claire, WI, going to Australia
The Chou Kuo-ping Award honors the UW–Madison faculty member who taught Chinese language here in the mid-1960s and organized opportunities for students to study in Taiwan. This scholarship was created by a former student – Tom Sternberg, of White Plains, NY – to support study in Chinese-speaking countries.
  • Recipients, participating in the UW Intensive Chinese Language Program at Tianjin, China, summer 2015: David Bangs, of Sturtevant, WI; Alexander Cottingham, of Wilmette, IL; Alexa Everson, of Prior Lake, MN; Brandon Steiner, of Lodi, WI; Kyle Ye, of Middleton, WI.
  • Other recipients: Nathaniel Corey, of Verona, WI, going to China; Danielle Mahlum, going to China, fall 2015; Alison Sharpless, of Elm Grove, WI, going to Taiwan, AY 2015-16; Isaiah Stock, of Madison, WI, going to Taiwan, AY 2015-16; Nathan Wong, of Medina, MN, going to China, summer 2015.
The Joseph Elder Awards – supported by gifts from alumni, colleagues and friends to honor Professor Elder, who has served as academic director of the UW–Madison College Year in India program since 1961 – is awarded to outstanding students participating in one of the UW–Madison academic programs abroad.
  • Recipients: Henry Schmaltz, of Madison, WI, going to Russia, AY 2015-16; Abigail Simpson, of Prairie du Sac, WI, going to Japan, AY 2015-16
The First-Year Interest Group (FIG) Study Abroad Scholarship – established in 2013 – provide support for students enrolled in FIGs to study abroad, and are made possible by the Schoenleber Foundation and UW–Madison Office of Diversity and Climate.
  • Recipients, all going to Sweden, summer 2015: Will Brown, of Haddonfield, NJ; Steven Farrell, of Antioch, IL; Derek Johns, of Salisbury, NC; Katherine Pickup, of Alexandria, VA.
The Elizabeth Garden Memorial Scholarship – established by Lori Chozen to honor her friend Elizabeth Ann Garden – provides need-based scholarships for students to study abroad in Spain.
  • Recipient: Shelby Weger, of Edgerton, WI, going to Spain, AY 2015-16
The Julie & Michael Gerend Scholarship is made possible by a generous donation from Julie and Michael Gerend to help provide financial support to students who wish to study abroad since their own study abroad opportunities profoundly influenced their lives.
  • Recipient: Kaitlyn Schneider, of Madison, WI, going to Italy, summer 2015
The Great People – International Studies Scholarship aims to make study abroad for undergraduates accessible and affordable.
  • Recipients: Katie Gehrke, of Madison, WI, going to Spain, fall 2015; Janel Herrera, going to Italy, summer 2015; Alex Heuer, of Glendale, WI, going to Greece, summer 2015; Angela Johnson, of Kenosha, WI, going to Greece, summer 2015; Danielle Kollpainter, of Wausau, WI, going to Spain, fall 2015; Elaine Luong, of Madison, WI, going to China, summer 2015: Nicole Nelson, of Madison, WI, going to Italy, summer 2015; Kymberly Sickle, of Champlin, MN, going to Denmark, summer 2015; Ashley Xiong, of Madison, WI, going to China, summer 2015
The IAP Graduate & Professional Student Scholarship is available to degree-seeking UW–Madison graduate and professional students studying abroad on a program offered through International Academic Programs.
  • Recipients, all going abroad summer 2015: Alyssa George, of Milwaukee, WI, going to Uganda; Jenny Giang, of Madison, WI, going to Ecuador; Hailey Keeser, of Milton, WI, going to Uganda; Wanda Meeteer, of Middleton, WI, going to Thailand; Stacy Paar, of Sauk City, WI, going to Ecuador; Maureen Riegert, of Greendale, WI, going to Uganda; Andrew Steinfeldt, of Green Bay, WI, going to Thailand; Karissa Warner, of Madison, WI, going to Uganda; Zeeshan Yacoob, of Milwaukee, WI, going to Uganda
The Wisconsin International Scholarship Program (WISc) is an undergraduate honors enrichment program for students interested in global affairs, cultures, and languages. To support the efforts of this Program, International Academic Programs established the IAP WISc Scholarship to support the efforts of the program and encourage all WISc students to participate in an overseas academic experience.
  • Recipients: Makayla Dehne, of River Falls, WI, going to Croatia, summer 2015; Monica Gressett, of Rochester, MN, going to Nepal, summer 2015; Vera Swanson, of Rochester, MN, going to Kazakhstan, summer 2015; Ann Trafford, of Madison, WI, going to Jordan, AY 2015-16; Karen Wong, of Verona, WI, going to China, summer 2015
The Laurent Karim Makward Memorial Scholarship – honors the son of Christiane Makward, professor of French, Pennsylvania State University, and UW–Madison Professor Emeritus Edris Makward of African Languages and Literature and French. Laurent, a student on UW–Madison program in Aix-en-Provence in 1981-82, died in 1983 in France.
  • Recipient: Nicole Pandl, of New Berlin, WI, going to Peru, AY 2015-16
The George B. and Lisa N. McReddie International Studies Scholarship was created to provide support for students studying in Latin America. George McReddie did his undergraduate work in political science and Latin American studies at UW–Madison, and went on to earn his MBA in international finance at Thunderbird School of Global Management.
  • Recipient: Haley Unger, of Two Rivers, WI, going to Peru, fall 2015
The Nave Scholarship – established in 1975 with a bequest from the estate of Cyril W. Nave, a 1918 UW business graduate who had many dealings in Latin America – is given to students studying in Latin America who have at least a 3.0 GPA and need.
  • Recipient: Jenna Leroy, of Brookfield, WI, going to Costa Rica, summer 2015
The Pritzker-Pucker Scholarship Awards were made possible by a gift from Gigi Pritzker Pucker, an alumna of UW–Madison’s Nepal study abroad program and a long-time contributor to the study abroad scholarship fund.
  • Recipients, all going abroad for the AY 2015-16 year: Alina Capanna, of Milton, WI, going to Russia; Marisa Irwin, of Greendale, WI, going to Russia; Michaela Johnke, of Madison, WI, going to Peru; Ainsley McNerney, of Kildeer, IL, going to Russia
The ScanDesign Study Abroad Fellowship – established in 2010 by Inger and Jens Brunn of the ScanDesign Foundation, Seattle – aims to foster Danish-American relations by providing generous financial support to undergraduate and graduate students who have been accepted to study in Denmark for a semester or a full academic year through any of UW–Madison’s Danish study abroad programs.
  • Recipients, all going to Denmark: Jennifer Abplanalp, of Madison, WI, summer 2015; Gracia Bonesho, of Lakeville, MN, summer 2015; Clara Dockter, of Saint Paul, MN, summer 2015; Erik Elliott, of Sturgeon Bay, WI; Emma Krauska, of Waukesha, WI, fall 2015; Alexandra Lindstrom, of Wauwatosa, WI, summer 2015; Andrea Moyer, of Elm Grove, WI, summer 2015; Ryan O’Connor, of Madison, WI, fall 2015; Erica Olson, of Black River Falls, WI, summer 2015; Tyler Pinter, of Rogers, MN; Jaclyn Scott, of Jamison, PA, fall 2015
The School of Education Lois E. Hack Study Abroad Scholarship – supported by alumni – is awarded to undergraduates in the School of Education, with priority for first-time study abroad students and those participating in programs in Africa, Asia, or Latin America.
  • Recipients: Nallely Hernandez, of Madison, WI, going to China, summer 2015
The Study Abroad Alumni Awards have come about through generous contributions from committed UW alumni and friends of study-abroad programs. Gifts to the Study Abroad Fund provide direct assistance toward increasing the number and diversity of students studying overseas.
  • Recipients: Dorian Gonzalez, of Los Angeles, CA, going to South Korea, fall 2015; Emily Young, of Green Bay, WI, going to England, fall 2015
The UW Scandinavian Studies in Sweden Scholarship is for UW degree-seeking undergrads who are studying abroad on the UW Scandinavian Studies program in Stockholm, Sweden through International Academic Programs (IAP) during summer 2015. On this three-week summer program in Stockholm, students will delve into Nordic medieval influences on modern Sweden.
  • Recipients: Will Brown, of Haddonfield, NJ; Derek Johns, of Salisbury, NC; Rachel Parks, of Lombard, IL; Eva Shelton, of Williamsburg, IA
The Morton and Lena Wax Scholarship – established by their children as a tribute to their parents – is awarded as an expression of appreciation for the excellent education family members have received at UW–Madison.
  • Recipient: Riley Hays, of Madison, WI, going to France, fall 2015
The Study Abroad Scholars Award aims to break down the financial barriers to study abroad and to encourage students to: “Discover the world … and bring the world back to Wisconsin!” All Study Abroad Scholars must carry out a “Share Your Experience” project upon their return to campus. Some of these awards specifically target first-generation college students, those going abroad for the first time, honors students, and majors in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) disciplines.
  • Recipients, going abroad summer 2015: Karina Teresa Barretto, of New Berlin, WI, going to Netherlands/England; Kendra Brown, of Madison, WI, going to Ecuador; Makayla Dehne, of River Falls, WI, going to Croatia; Lisa Deneckere, of Madison, WI, going to China, Beijing; Andrew Elmeer, of Minnetonka, MN, going to Spain; Tricia Fishbune, of Rochester, MN, going to Italy; Jacob Fleming, of Franklin, WI, going to Spain; Alexandra Folino, of Rothschild, WI, going to Italy; Samantha Getting, of Roseville, MN, going to China;
  • Lauren Gonitzke, of Phelps, WI, going to China; Madeline Hanson, of Madison, WI, going to Spain; Celina Her, of Saint Paul, MN, going to Netherlands/England; Paris Howze, of Los Angeles, CA, going to England; Margaret Huskin, of Thiensville, WI, going to Italy; Jia Hui Khoo, of                Melaka, Malaysia, going to England; Danielle Krimmer, of Birnamwood, WI, going to Ireland; Michelle Lam, of Eau Claire, WI, going to China; John Leinonen, of Arlington Heights, IL, going to China; Tina Liu, of Green Bay, WI, going to China;
  • Lisa Liu, of Shawano, WI, going to China; Yao Liu, of Taiyuan Shanxi, China, going to Denmark; Monica Madrigal, of Milwaukee, WI, going to Spain; Savannah Mathe, of Madison, WI, going to Spain; Katherine Mcclure, of Schaumburg, IL, going to China; Mary Mohr, of De Pere, WI, going to Ecuador; Rachel Nachman, of Plover, WI, going to France; Abigail Philipps, of Dodgeville, WI, going to China; Ashley Preston, of Valders, WI, going to Ecuador; Bridget Ravis, of Middleton, WI, going to Thailand; Shannon Rudin, of Woodbury, MN, going to Ecuador;
  • Austin Sailing, of Madison, WI, going to China; Asami Sakai, of Mazomanie, WI, going to Spain; Sarah Jo Schoenhaar, of Madison, WI, going to Costa Rica; Courtney Schwebach, of Plover, WI, going to Argentina; Eileen Shea, of Milwaukee, WI, going to Denmark; Megan Veach, of Santa Cruz, CA, going to Czech Republic; Bri Vogel, of Onalaska, WI, going to Tanzania; Kallie Waro, of East Troy, WI, going to Tanzania; Vickie Yang, of Sun Prairie, WI, going to China
  • Recipients, going abroad fall 2015: Marcus Amato, of Oshkosh, WI, going to Morocco; Samantha Apple, of Brookfield, WI, going to Chile; Kasey Cragg, of Burlington, WI, going to France; Cheyenne Danbrova, of Madison, WI, going to Spain; Austin Gallogly, of Madison, WI, going to France; Matthew Gehrke, of Madison, WI, going to France; Thomas Gierok, of Madison, WI, going to Italy; Pamanisha Gross, of Milwaukee, WI, going to England; Alison Gruen, of Marshfield, WI, going to Spain; Dylan Haller, of Madison, WI, going to Italy;
  • Lukas Heins, of  Madison, WI, going to New Zealand; Tori Kusiak, of Fenwood, WI, going to Australia; Grace Maples, of Minnetonka, MN, going to Iceland; Nadja Marie Mataya, of Madison, WI, going to Italy, Florence; Madeline Miller, of De Pere, WI, going to Ireland; Luke Muentner, of Fond du Lac, WI, going to Ireland; Suzanne Phalen, of Ringle, WI, going to England; Samantha Pietenpol, of Richfield, WI, going to Spain; Ellie Schafer, of Middleton, WI, going to Uganda; Amanda Schussman, of West Bend, WI, going to England; Bobbi Skenandore, of Cicero, IL, going to Tanzania; Anna Stamborski, of New Berlin, WI, going to Uganda;
  • Recipients going abroad AY 2015-16: Emilie Braun, of Neenah, WI, going to South Africa; Cassidy Devault, of Cottage Grove, WI, going to Spain; Mitchell Ewald, of Wisconsin Rapids, WI, going to Brazil; Katharine Gilson, of Bethesda, MD, going to England; Sascha Glaeser, of Madison, WI, going to Germany; Casey Hutchison, of Middleton, WI, going to Germany; Elizabeth Krueger, of Delafield, WI, going to Russia; Haloren Mellendorf, of Madison, WI, going to Morocco; Kelly Spoerk, of Muskego, WI, going to Australia; Tammy Tian, of Greendale, WI, going to China; Mariel White, of Beloit, WI, going to Spain
– by Kerry G. Hill