Student loans introduced as component of financial need consideration for 89 new FEA Scholars
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 29, 2023 – The Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) has increased access to international education for more than 1,000 undergraduates and reached $3.25 million in scholarships with its latest awards. With this new cohort, a total of 1,025 students with financial need, including students of color, first-generation college students, and community college students, have benefited from scholarships granted since FEA’s inception in 2010.
This cycle, which awards funding for summer 2023, fall 2023, and the academic year 2023-2024 programs, was also the first cycle in which applicants’ loans were considered in addition to other factors in order to determine financial need.
Of the 89 scholars awarded this application cycle, 89% of awarded scholars identify as students of color: 1% Middle Eastern or North African, 33% Black/African American, 14% Asian/South Asian, 29% Hispanic/Latinx, and 13% identified as mixed race. Additionally, 62% have never left the United States. Characteristic of FEA scholars, 90% are first-generation college students, and 43% are current or former community college students.
“We are thrilled to welcome the next cohort of FEA Scholars, and to have reached the milestone of supporting over 1000 students in reaching their study abroad goals,” said FEA Executive Director Angela Schaffer.
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 engage in the mission of the organization through annual support towards co-branded and allocated scholarships, and they participate on the Access Advisory Board, providing critical leadership-level feedback to FEA.
FEA General Scholarship Recipients:
- Melanie Gallegos-Campos, University of California, Davis, Mexico, Fall 2023
- Cheyenne Plear, Christopher Newport University, Germany, Summer 2023
- Sabrin Sultana, Fordham University, United Kingdom, Fall 2023
FEA Named & Dedicated Scholarship Recipients:
- Artigas-Etchegaray Family Scholarship: Ella Byerley, Santa Barbara City College, Indonesia, Fall 2023
- BASAA Scholarship: Joel Sabando, Harvard University, Germany, Summer 2023
- Breakout Scholarship: Jannatul Ferdaus, Northern Virginia Community College, Philippines, Summer 2023; and Claudia Moreno, San Diego Mesa Community College, Spain, Summer 2023
- Calvert Family Scholarship: Bobbi Darcy, Washington State University, Spain, Summer 2023
- Virgina & Robert Craig Scholarship: Leonardo Corral, Macalester College, Ecuador, Fall 2023; Kathy Kha, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Japan, Summer 2023; Khoa Nguyen, California State University, Fullerton, Japan, Fall 2023; and Frida Sanchez-Rosalino, Elizabethtown College, Spain, Fall 2023
- Cyril Taylor Memorial Scholarship for Study in the United Kingdom: Stacey Dubreus, Boston University, Summer 2023; Dianelys Gonzalez, Miami Dade College, Summer 2023; Tofik Hamscho, the University of Texas at Austin, Summer 2023; Maximillian Lujan, University of California, Santa Cruz, Fall 2023; Lea-Ann Sado-Elvenia, Hawaii Pacific University, Summer 2023; Jaime Sanchez, the University of Texas at Austin, Summer 2023; Ishka Trevino, the University of Texas at Austin, Summer 2023; Aleena Vargas, Nova Southeastern University, Academic Year 23-24
- Hiliary Echo Douglas Memorial Scholarship: Juana Villanueva, Texas A&M University, Taiwan, Summer 2023
- Eleni Zachariou Memorial Scholarship for Study in Greece: Guadalupe Castillo, Georgia State University, Summer 2023
- Gateway International Group Scholarship: Jaxom Kitchens, Western Kentucky University, Japan, Summer 2023; Jasmine Procita, University of Louisville, South Korea, Fall 2023; and Mikel Snow, Western Kentucky University, Tanzania, Summer 2023
- Gugel-McPherson Family Scholarship: Melany Chavez Ugalde, University of California, Santa Cruz, Italy, Summer 2023
- J. Scott Van Der Meid Memorial Scholarship: Emelis Vicente, Suffolk University, Spain, Fall 2023
- Kacenga-Cladera Family Rainbow Scholarship: Sam Willard, Forsyth Technical Community College, South Africa, Summer 2023
- Jan Kieling Rainbow Scholarship: Crystal Kleminsky, University of Memphis, Japan, Summer 2023
- Lynn Stevens Memorial Scholarship: Mahiri Moore, Jr., University of California, Davis, Spain, Summer 2023
- Malu Alvarez Global Access Scholarship: Nathaly Mejia, Cypress College, Italy, Fall 2023; and Antanisha Vargas, Lehman College CUNY, Spain, Fall 2023
- Martha & Jeff Johnson Scholarship: Fatima Jarquin, Georgia Institute of Technology, Spain, Summer 2023
- NAFSA Tamara H. Bryant Memorial Scholarship: Floyd Beaufort, University of Connecticut, Germany, Fall 2023; Yazmyn Carter, University of North Texas, Japan, Summer 2023; Selah Casamalhuapa-Brownlee, University of California, Santa Barbara, Barbados, Fall 2023; Sanaa Chambers, Coastal Carolina University, Italy, Academic Year 23-24; Jayda Davis, University of North Texas, France, Summer 2023; Karissa Graham-Blackman, Minnesota State University, United Kingdom, Fall 2023; Jakyra Green, Goshen College, Guatemala, Summer 2023; Sha’Mario Jackson, Mississippi University for Women, Spain, Summer 2023; Gail Mensah, Northeastern University, South Africa, Summer 2023; Abdirisak Mohamud, Augsburg University, Greece, Fall 2023; Soroya Nixon, Central Piedmont Community College, Ecuador, Summer 2023; Akilah Toney, Loyola University New Orleans, Ghana, Fall 2023; Emmanuella Welsh, Miami University, South Korea, Summer 2023; and Kayah Young, Columbus State University, Spain, Summer 2023
- David T. Parry Founders Scholarship: Ashley Suh, University of California, Santa Cruz, Spain, Summer 2023; and Stella Tsogtjargal, Brown University, Japan, Summer 2023
- Rainbow Scholarship: JD Sturdevant, Kirkwood Community College, South Africa, Summer 2023; Madalyn Hernandez, California State University, Fullerton, South Korea, Fall 2023; and Jacqueline Sifuentes, Texas A&M University, Bulgaria, Summer 2023
- The A. Rewari Family Scholarship for Study in Denmark: Remi Amokomowo, Smith College, Fall 2023; and Tashi Sherpa, SUNY Geneseo, Fall 2023
- Simpson Sisters Scholarship: Tuong Mien Nguyen, University of California, Santa Cruz, Cuba, Summer 2023
- David Roach Pierson Scholarship: Tanya Qu, Brown University, United Kingdom, Summer 2023
- wondertrunk & co. Scholarship for Study in Japan: Christy Guo, Baruch College, Japan, Fall 2023
FEA Access Partner Scholarship Recipients:
- AIFS Access Partner Scholarship: Kelly Pratt, University of Mary Washington, France, Summer 2023; and Rocel Angeline Talabis, Mt. San Antonio College, United Kingdom, Fall 2023
- American University in Cairo Access Partner Scholarship: Nosimat Salami, Gettysburg College, Egypt, Fall 2023
- CAPA Access Partner Scholarship: Darren Edwards, Towson University, United Kingdom, Summer 2023
- CEA Access Partner Scholarship: Megan Buzzanca, University of Dayton, Spain, Summer 2023; Amirah Foster, Eastern Connecticut State University, Spain, Summer 2023; Corinne Lloyd, Chatham University, Spain, Summer 2023; Melissa Elizabeth Pena, University of Texas, San Antonio, Italy, Summer 2023; and Marilyn Yanes-Perez, Nova Southeastern University, Spain, Summer 2023
- CET Academic Programs Access Partner Scholarship: Samira Ahmed, University of Minnesota, Jordan, Fall 2023; Benjamin Bitner, University of Dayton, Taiwan, Summer 2023; Beatrix Damashek, Kalamazoo College, Taiwan, Fall 2023; Jewel Hardwick, Colby College, Taiwan, Summer 2023; and Jordan Simmons, Washington University in St. Louis, Colombia, Fall 2023
- DIS Access Partner Scholarship: Sierra Schneidt, University of Michigan, Denmark & Sweden, Summer 2023; and Elizabeth Whitmore, University of Michigan, Denmark & Sweden, Summer 2023
- FIE Access Partner Scholarship: Anniesa Owens, Drexel University, United Kingdom & Ireland, Summer 2023
- Inclusive Ireland Access Partner Scholarship: April Arroyo, Mt. San Antonio College, Summer 2023; Akira Brown, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Summer 2023; Sohfiat Hassan, University of Minnesota, Fall 2023; Tran Le, Cypress College, Summer 2023; Daniela Mar, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Summer 2023; and Kayse Umbaugh, Christopher Newport University, Summer 2023
- SIT Access Partner Scholarship: Ava Faria, Brandeis University, Netherlands & Morocco, Fall 2023
- University of Sydney Access Partner Scholarship: Caleb Aguiar, Trinity University, Australia, Fall 2023
- USAC Access Partner Scholarship: Destiny Hanks, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Italy, Fall 2023; Eliana Johnson, Eastern Kentucky University, United Kingdom, Summer 2023; and Emily Sanchez, University of Idaho, Chile, Summer 2023
- WorldStrides Access Partner Scholarship: Donovan Fomby, Christopher Newport University, Grenada, Summer 2023; Maurilio Ramirez, University of Idaho, Japan, Fall 2023; and Kevin Ruiz, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Spain, Fall 2023
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About the Fund for Education Abroad
The Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) supports U.S. students with financial need who are traditionally underrepresented in study abroad. Focused on first-generation college, community college, and minoritized students, FEA has awarded more than $3.25 million in FEA scholarships to more than 1,000 scholars since its founding in 2010. The only national non-profit (501(c)(3)) scholarship provider funded exclusively through philanthropy, FEA supports students before, during, and after their study abroad experience with scholarships and programming. FEA is a Guidestar Gold participant and was awarded the 2020 Innovation in Diversity Award by GoAbroad.com, the 2019 Scholarship Provider of the Year Award by the National Scholarship Providers Association, the 2015 Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion in International Education (EDIIE) Award by Diversity Abroad, and the 2015 Innovation in Philanthropy Award by GoAbroad.com. Follow FEA online and on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter.