WASHINGTON, D.C., 5 December 2024 – The Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) awarded more than $270,000 in scholarships and funding to 71 undergraduates planning to study abroad in Spring 2025. With this new cohort, a total of 1,263 students with financial need, including students of color, first-generation college students, and community college students, have benefited from FEA scholarships since FEA’s inception in 2010.
With the amount awarded this cycle, which awards funding for programs taking place between December 2024 and May 2025, FEA celebrates a major milestone of over $4 million given to motivated scholars throughout FEA’s history. The awardees were selected by 92 volunteer reviewers and FEA staff from among 1,639 eligible applicants.
Of the 71 scholars awarded this application cycle, 93% identify as students of color; 28% identify as LGBTQ+; 23% identify as male, 70% as female, and 7% as genderfluid or non-binary. Characteristic of FEA scholars, 94% are first-generation college students, 30% are current or former community college students, and 37% have never left the United States. Currently studying in universities and colleges in 27 states, the new FEA Scholars will attend programs in over 25 countries across five continents.
“We are honored to have the support of so many who are striving to make study abroad more accessible. As we celebrate the opportunity of this new cohort of scholars, we give a special thanks to all of FEA’s supporters, donors, partners, and volunteer reviewers who make these scholarships possible,” said FEA Program Manager Joelle Leinbach. “As we look ahead to 2025, FEA will continue to put access and equity first as we consider further improvements to our application process and expand our ranks of volunteer reviewers.”
“As someone who personally benefitted from an FEA Scholarship, I am honored and excited to usher this cohort of FEA Scholars through their experiences abroad. Seeing the growth and achievements throughout their life cycle as an FEA Scholar and Alum is the most fulfilling part of my job,” said Kaylee Henderson, FEA’s Senior Program Coordinator and FEA Alum (2019, CET Access Partner Scholarship).
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: Arianna Rubianes, Bowdoin College, Denmark
- Breakout Scholarship: Jose Chavez, Mt. San Antonio College, Japan; Pharrin Clarida, University of South Carolina Aiken, Dominica
- Virginia & Robert Craig Scholarship: Charlie Succar, Bentley University, Spain
- Cyril Taylor Memorial Scholarship for Study in the United Kingdom: Karma Carr, Chapman University, United Kingdom; Summer Dawn Current, North Hennepin Community College, United Kingdom; Surafele Sintayehu, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, United Kingdom
- Hiliary Echo Douglas Scholarship: Christopher Garcia, Mt. San Antonia College, Japan
- Gateway International Group Scholarship: Dylan Nguyen, University of Kentucky, France
- Gugel-McPherson Family Scholarship: Mariah Banks, University of West Georgia, Spain
- J. Scott Van Der Meid Memorial Scholarship: Verenice Hernandez, Spain
- Kacenga-Cladera Family Rainbow Scholarship: Kitiana Jackson, Kennesaw State University, South Korea
- Jan Kieling Rainbow Scholarship: Julissa Rodriguez, Temple University, Japan
- Malú Alvarez Global Access Scholarship: Iqra Athar, Trinity College, Sweden; Zienab Rouissiya, George Washington University, Japan
- Martha and Jeff Johnson Scholarship: Camia Cooper, Georgia State University, Brazil
- NAFSA Tamara H. Bryant Memorial Scholarship: Mia Jacobs, Susquehanna University, South Korea; Rel R, Brandeis University, Netherlands; Aliffer Zamira Sabek, Borough of Manhattan Community College, Brazil; Daniel Obitsre, Drury University, France; Jorgo Birri, Renton Technical College, Vietnam
- David & Susan Parry Founders Scholarship: August Rankin, Wichita State University, Germany; Shia Epperson, Kent State University, Italy
- Patricia & Robert Walker Scholarship: MauriAnna Richardson, Wofford College, Germany
- PFund Foundation Scholarship: Judith Hernandez-Hernandez, Macalester College, Ecuador
- Pyramid Systems Scholarship: Ngoc Quy Tran, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Singapore
- Rasmussen Family Scholarship: Jorja Burbano, University of San Francisco, Japan; Jocelyne Rodriguez Navarro, California State University, Long Beach, Japan; Nathan T, SUNY College at Old Westbury, Netherlands
FEA Access Partner Scholarship recipients include:
- AIFS Access Partner Scholarship: Keeley Wilson, University of California at Riverside, France; Luc Astor Olazábal, Florida Gulf Coast University, Spain
- CEACAPA Access Partner Scholarship: Daniel Swamy, University of Delaware, United Kingdom; Hawi Mamo, University of Kansas, Italy; Sammi Nie, University of Massachusetts Amherst, France; Maria Keenan, Syracuse University, Spain; Jaime Logan, Buffalo State University, Italy
- CET Academic Programs Access Partner Scholarship: Werlie Cius, Pomona College, Brazil; Patty Bessie, Columbia University, Italy
- DIS Access Partner Scholarship: Kimberly Galdamez Salazar, American University, Sweden; Richard Lu, Vassar College, Denmark; Kayla Morgan, Middlebury College, Denmark
- EF Study Abroad Access Partner Scholarship: Javier Salazar, Arapahoe Community College, Dominican Republic; Courtney Sturtevant, Arapahoe Community College, Dominican Republic; Chris Desruisseaux, Housatonic Community College, Spain; Amya Hudson, North Caroline A&T State University, United Kingdom, Austria & Netherlands; Hannah Hall, Morningside University, United Kingdom; Gladys Qualls, Morgan State University, Egypt; Nakita Brascom Wilson, Delta College, Japan; Tyra Dennis, North Caroline A&T State University, United Kingdom, Austria & Netherlands
- FIE Access Partner Scholarship (United Kingdom): Kenny Pratt, Loyola Marymount University; Aida Yezalaleul, Loyola Marymount University; Alea Kroeten, College of Saint Benedict
- IFSA: Isabella Damaso, Muhlenberg College, Argentina
- IFSA-University of Sydney Access Parter Scholarship: Jesse Gunn Cheu, Bucknell University, Australia
- Inclusive Ireland Access Partner Scholarship (Ireland): SkyAnn Collins, Middle Georgia College; Lexi Phillips, Texas Tech University; Alyssa Silva, The University of Texas at Austin; Jacob Bowman, Fox Valley Technical College; Jessica Zoll, Bard College
- Semester at Sea Access Partner Scholarship: Sophia Zonni, Chapman University
- University of Sydney Access Partner Scholarship (Australia): Isaac Gregory, Macalester College; Adriana Johnson, University of Minnesota Twin Cities
- USAC Access Partner Scholarship: Marlene Cabada, Augustana College, South Korea; Mackenna Fountain, Pittsburgh State University, France
- USAC Rainbow Scholarship: Tatiana Hughes, Loyola University Chicago, China
- WorldStrides Access Partner Scholarship: Gommy Okoro, Loyola University Maryland, South Africa; Nyiah Walker, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Spain
FEA General Scholarship recipients include: Madison Fuller, Colby-Sawyer College, Peru; Michele Rivero, Kean University, Italy; Satina Chen, George Washington University, Singapore