*Texas Scholarship

Akwaaba! My name is Ignacio Cruz and I am a senior at the University of Texas at Austin! I am a proud Longhorn majoring in corporate communication. I am from the Rio Grande Valley in the deep south of Texas. This summer, I have been accepted to study abroad in Accra, Ghana on a four week service learning program. If you would have told me that I would be travelling to West Africa during my college career, I would have thought you were absolutely nuts! However, that once ludicrous thought will become my reality and I cannot contain my excitement!

This summer I will put my communication skills to the test because I will be working with local art and crafts makers in Accra and teach them how to sell and market their own products online through the use of social media and eCommerce platforms. Needless to say, there will be a blast of hashtags, @ mentions, and retweets coming out of Ghana this summer! Last summer I had the chance to study abroad in Beijing, China and learned so much about myself—as a student, leader, and global citizen. I have learned to not stand back from taking risks… I have learned to look fear in the eyes… I have learned to defy expectations that have been set by others who do not realize your potential. Being able to step foot in Ghana will allow me to reinforce these beliefs in myself and hopefully set an example to every kid from “el barrio” who was in my shoes once. You have to be self-less, brave, and bold.