96 awardees will study in more than 35 countries
WASHINGTON, D.C., 15 April 2024 – The Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) awarded more than $310,000 in scholarships and funding to 96 undergraduates planning to study abroad in Summer, Fall, and Academic Year 2024-2025. With this new cohort, a total of 1,186 students with financial need, including students of color, first-generation college students, and community college students, have benefited from more than $3.7 million in scholarships granted since FEA’s inception in 2010.
This cycle, which awards funding for programs taking place between May and January 2024, as well as Academic Year 2024-25 programs, was the third cycle in which applicants’ loans were considered in addition to other factors to determine financial need. The awardees were selected by 117 volunteer reviewers and FEA staff from among 2,770 applicants–the largest pool in the organization’s 14-year history.
Of the 96 scholars awarded this application cycle, 87% identify as students of color, 45% identify as LGBTQ+; 22% identify as male, 71% as female, and 7% as genderfluid or non-binary. Characteristic of FEA scholars, 92% are first-generation college students, 44% are current or former community college students, and 57% have never left the United States. Currently studying in universities and colleges in 29 states, the new FEA Scholars will attend programs in over 35 countries across five continents.
“We are grateful to FEA’s supporters, donors, partners and volunteer reviewers who make study abroad scholarships possible, and we celebrate the accomplishments of the current cohort of scholars,” said FEA Executive Director Angela Schaffer. “Moving forward, FEA will continue to prioritize equity and access as we redesign our application to incorporate changes from the FAFSA simplification, and we consider the use of AI by students in their submissions.”
“As someone who benefitted greatly from study abroad, I am especially excited for this cohort of FEA scholars to have a similar transformative experience and work to increase global understanding, give back to their communities, and mentor future generations as the leaders of tomorrow,” said Dr. Amar Rewari, Chair of the FEA Board of Trustees.
FEA awards many different types of scholarships, including Named & Dedicated Scholarships that are funded by specific donors; designated scholarships that are destination- or demographic-specific; and Access Partner Scholarships. FEA Access Partners offer annual co-branded and allocated scholarships, and they participate on the Access Advisory Board.
FEA Named & Dedicated Scholarship recipients include:
- A. Rewari Family Scholarship for Study Abroad in Denmark: Tashi Sherpa, SUNY College at Geneseo, Fall 2024; Jennifer C.O., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Summer 2024; Addyson Poindexter, Indiana University Bloomington, Summer 2024
- Breakout Scholarship: Panisa Paibool, Georgia Gwinnett College, South Korea and Thailand, Summer 2024
- Virginia & Robert Craig Scholarship: Fiona Holdaway, Santa Clara University, Spain, Fall 2024
- Cyril Taylor Memorial Scholarship for Study in the United Kingdom: Doniella Ambersley, New York University, Fall 2024; Belladonna La Fiore, Palo Alto Community College, Summer 2024; Nicoll Lerda, University of California, Santa Barbara, Academic Year 2024-2025; Mikayla Lightheart, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Summer 2024; Bobbi Mandour, University of California, Riverside, Summer 2024; Rachel Robinson, Grand Valley State University, Fall 2024; Jasmine Watson, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Fall 2024; Yan Yang, Emory University, Summer 2024
- Gateway International Group Scholarship: Krystal Bush, Bellarmine University, South Korea, Fall 2024; Joshalyn Hamilton, Western Kentucky University, Senegal, Summer 2024; Priscilla Riggs, Western Kentucky University, South Korea, Summer 2024
- J. Scott Van Der Meid Memorial Scholarship: Nathan Flores, University of Texas at Austin, China, Fall 2024; Nathaniel Kwon, Columbia University in the City of New York, France, Summer 2024
- Kacenga-Cladera Family Rainbow Scholarship: Noah Geluk, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, Austria, Summer 2024
- Jan Kieling Rainbow Scholarship: Kathleen Hoang, Columbia University in the City of New York, United Kingdom, Fall 2024
- Malú Alvarez Global Access Scholarship: Kevin Ly, University of Kansas, South Korea, Fall 2024; Yonis Muse, Augsburg University, Greece, Fall 2024; Marino Serna, Georgia Institute of Technology – Main Campus, South Korea, Fall 2024
- Martha and Jeff Johnson Scholarship: Aleza Phothisene, West Texas A&M University, Kenya, Summer 2024
- NAFSA Tamara H. Bryant Memorial Scholarship: Bobbi Coffee, Western Kentucky University, United Kingdom, Fall 2024; Jaleyl Edwards-Sharp, Prairie View A & M University, Dominican Republic, Summer 2024; Leah Freeman, University of California, Berkeley, Ghana, Summer 2024; Raven Hogans, Saint Louis Community College at Meramec, France, Summer 2024; Destini Simon, University of South Carolina – Columbia, France, Summer 2024; Jasmine Walker, Georgia Southern University, Spain, Summer 2024; Angeleta Young-Holley, University of Tampa, Japan, Fall 2024
- David & Susan Parry Founders Scholarship: Makayla Herman, Hampton University, France, Summer 2024; Madison Romero, The University of Texas at Austin, Greece, Summer 2024; Faith Vieira, University of North Georgia, Spain, Summer 2024
- Lynn Stevens Memorial Scholarship: Shyyonna Veney, Albany State University, India, Summer 2024
- Pyramid Systems Scholarship: Amen Amare, Boston College, Portugal, Summer 2024; Muhanad Osman, Northern Virginia Community College, Japan, Fall 2024
- Rainbow Scholarship: Jaylen Minard, University of South Alabama, Thailand, Fall 2024; Julie Tang, Georgia State University, Indonesia, Summer 2024
- Rasmussen Family Scholarship: Misael Aguilar, California State University – Channel Islands, Peru, Summer 2024; Wendy Han, University of California, Riverside, Germany, Fall 2024; Edward Hernandez, California State University – Fullerton, Japan, Fall 2024; Aaron Orellana, California State University – Fullerton, France, Summer 2024; Stephanie Tejeda, Pratt Institute, Japan, Summer 2024; Takara Timmons, San Bernardino Valley College, Japan, Summer 2024
- Simpson Sisters’ Scholarship: Melody Khalaf, Lycoming College, Japan, Fall 2024
FEA Access Partner Scholarship recipients include:
- AIFS Access Partner Scholarship: Gabriella Narby, University of Colorado at Boulder, Italy, Summer 2024; Jolina Obligacion, California State University – Chico, Costa Rica, Summer 2024; Isaiah Villegas, University of California – San Diego, Ireland, Summer 2024
- CEACAPA Access Partner Scholarship: Brian Calderon Ortiz, University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, Spain, Summer 2024; Hannah Henris, Brandeis University, Costa Rica, Summer 2024; Michelle Ihetu, University of South Carolina – Columbia, Spain, Summer 2024; Emani Labon, Spelman College, Spain, Summer 2024; Bryana Langford, University of Central Arkansas, France, Summer 2024; Anahi Mayorga, University of South Carolina – Columbia, Spain, Summer 2024; Rachel McIlroy, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, Spain, Fall 2024; Estephany Mireles, University of Houston, Spain, Summer 2024; Damon Smith, University of Houston, France, Fall 2024; Evy Xayasone, Alverno College, Italy, Fall 2024
- CET Academic Programs Access Partner Scholarship: Nevaeh Angarita, Davidson College, Colombia, Fall 2024
- DIS Access Partner Scholarship (Denmark): Kali Barry, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, Iceland and Sweden, Summer 2024; Michelle Cao, Cornell University, Denmark and United Kingdom, Fall 2024; Doanh Pham, University of Kansas, Netherlands, Sweden, and Denmark, Summer 2024
- Education New Zealand Access Partner Scholarship (New Zealand): Angel Fabian, Kennesaw State University, Summer 2024; Alexandra Osorio, University of Denver, Fall 2024; Dayonna Simmons, Malone University, Fall 2024
- EF Study Abroad Access Partner Scholarship: David Hardy, Jacksonville State University, France and United Kingdom, Summer 2024; Neo Hopkins, College for Creative Studies, Costa Rica, Summer 2024; Genesis Taylor, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, France & United Kingdom, Summer 2024; Alexandria Thomas, Palm Beach State College, Italy, Germany, and Switzerland, Summer 2024
- FIE Access Partner Scholarship (United Kingdom): Diliana Alvarez-Perez, Drexel University, Summer 2024; Jillian Peterman, College of New Jersey, Fall 2024; Deirdre Steele, University of Florida
- IFSA: Sandra Ochoa Warden, George Washington University, Spain, Summer 2024
- Inclusive Ireland Access Partner Scholarship (Ireland): Eddielyn Santiago, Alvernia University, Summer 2024; Ella Baker, Susquehanna University, Fall 2024; Courtney Kolb, Hunter College – CUNY, Fall 2024
- Sea Education Association Access Partner Scholarship: Abbey Thornton, College of the Atlantic, Dominica and Grenada, Fall 2024
- Semester at Sea Access Partner Scholarship: Ciera Morrow, California Polytechnic University, Fall 2024; Marvel Olson, Stetson University, Fall 2024; Jessica Rojas Olivera, Oregon State University, Fall 2024
- University of Sydney Access Partner Scholarship (Australia): Katie Floyd, Ithaca College, Fall 2024; Rebekah Maldonado, University of California, Santa Barbara, Fall 2024; Amirah Winn, UC Davis, Fall 2024
- USAC Access Partner Scholarship: Kat Boeding, University of South Dakota, Germany, Fall 2024; Nina Kohut, California State University – Stanislaus, Costa Rica, Summer 2024; Kayla Tran, Boise State University, Italy, Summer 2024
- USAC Rainbow Scholarship: Daisy Estrada Garza, University of Idaho, Uruguay, Fall 2024
- WorldStrides Access Partner Scholarship: Ester Gao, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Germany, Summer 2024; Anthony Gonzalez, University of Idaho, Italy, Summer 2024; Kimberly Rendon, University of North Texas at Dallas, Spain, Summer 2024
FEA General Scholarship recipients include: Caleb Leven, Texas A & M University, Panama and Costa Rica, Fall 2024; Erika Lopez, Eastern Mennonite University, Mexico, Summer 2024; Brittany Rosas, University of North Texas, Italy, Summer 2024; Demitrius Webb, Western Michigan University, Japan, Summer 2024