Six students receive “Generation Study Abroad” scholarships

The Office of International Programs has awarded six “Generation Study Abroad” scholarships of $2,500 each to students planning to study abroad in spring or summer 2017. The recipients are Chris Chavarria ’19, Gabrielle Grilo ’18, Hannah Lussier ’18, Noel Pichardo ’17, Sukhi Singh ’20 and Roy Starks Jr. ’20.

“Studying abroad will impact my academic goals positively,” said Singh, an economics and financial management major who will study abroad during the summer of 2017. “I will be able to adjust to a new environment and be able to explore new and various ways of studying and learning, while looking at my academics in a different perspective.”

“Given my field of study, I believe it’s imperative for me to have real world experience available only through opportunities such as study abroad,” said Chavarria, a global business and economics major who will study in Chile during the spring 2017 semester. “It will inspire me to appreciate the practical applications for principles learned in class. As well, studying abroad in Chile will allow me to strengthen my Spanish and develop an international business vocabulary, which will serve my future goals.”

Salve Regina received the scholarship funds through a national competition sponsored by the Institute of International Education (IIE) and was selected as one of 14 Generation Study Abroad commitment partner universities to receive a grant. IIE established the Generation Study Abroad program to diversify study abroad and to encourage students to go abroad who would otherwise not participate in an academic, internship or service-learning experience abroad.

The selection process focused on attracting populations of students currently underrepresented on Salve Regina study abroad programs including, but not limited to, students with high financial need, first generation college students, underrepresented racial/ethnic groups on campus and student athletes.

“I will be engaging in a program that focuses on Spanish language and Latin American studies,” said Lussier, a global studies major and Spanish minor who will study in Chile during the spring 2017 semester. “One of my biggest academic goals has been to become fluent in a foreign language. By studying abroad and taking classes in Spanish while interacting with the community through service learning, my hope is that I will return home to the United States having gained fluency as well as cultural competency.”

“Getting the opportunity to study abroad and learn other countries’ laws and policies would be a great opportunity,” said Pichardo, an administration of justice major who will study abroad during the summer of 2017. “I would love to work in the federal law enforcement field and would like to travel abroad with a federal agency in my career. I believe spending a semester in another country would show future employers my willingness to travel and ability to adapt to other cultures.”

“It is inevitable that when I begin my fieldwork and eventually become a full-time teacher, I will be introduced to many students who come from various backgrounds and cultures,” said Grilo, an elementary and special education major who will study in New Zealand during the summer of 2017. “Having the opportunity to go on a study abroad trip would allow me to see other parts of the world and expose me to the different cultures present in other countries. I will become more culturally aware and will be able to apply my study abroad experiences in my future life and endeavors as an educator.”

After completing their study abroad, the recipients will give campus presentations about their experiences and will become Generation Study Abroad alumni, helping the IIE increase study abroad participation nationally.

For more information on study abroad scholarships, visit the Office of International Programs’ scholarships webpage.