MACON — Mercer University’s Office of Global Engagement has awarded its latest round of Global Leader Scholarships (GLS), providing 16 students with a total of $52,800 to participate in study abroad programs during the upcoming spring semester.
The GLS program was launched in 2019 to support students with financial need in pursuing long-term study abroad opportunities at the University. The scholarship initially offered up to $8,000 per student for programs of eight weeks or longer, but the program was expanded to include awards of up to $5,000 for programs of three to eight weeks and up to $3,000 for programs shorter than three weeks.
“The Global Leader Scholarship is a testament to the University’s belief in the transformational impact study abroad experiences can have for all students,” said Felix Jelen, assistant vice president of global engagement. “This scholarship extends funding for study abroad programming to students on meritocratic and need-based terms, giving many the opportunity to study and travel who would otherwise be unable to.”
Of the 16 students who received the most recent scholarships, seven will participate in exchange or affiliate programs and nine will join faculty-led programs. They include:
- Naman Arora, a junior marketing major, will participate in an exchange fall program in Spain
- Janae Bonaparte, a junior marketing major, will participate in an exchange summer program in South Korea
- Devin Dalby, a freshman computer engineering major, will participate in an exchange fall program in Japan
- Nailah Desamu-Thorpe, a junior chemistry and Spanish double-major, will participate in a faculty-led summer program in Spain
- Gerell Glenn, a junior creative writing major, will participate in an exchange fall program in Japan
- Angelina Goodman, a sophomore accounting and Spanish double-major, will participate in a faculty-led summer program in Spain
- Kaytlin Haynes, a junior chemistry major, will participate in an exchange summer program in South Korea
- Nyny Hoang, a junior Spanish major, will participate in a faculty-led summer program in Spain
- Lainey Hunt, a sophomore holistic child major, will participate in a faculty-led summer program in Spain
- Delaila Marquez, a sophomore criminal justice and journalism double-major, will participate in a faculty-led summer program in Sweden
- Lexsea Nix, a sophomore neuroscience major, will participate in a faculty-led summer program in Greece
- Naahemaa Oser-Tutu, a senior global health studies major, will participate in a faculty-led summer program in Spain
- Emma Page, a junior political science and English double-major, will participate in an affiliate summer program in France
- Taylor Parker, a freshman global development studies and anthropology double-major, will participate in a faculty-led summer program in Sweden
- Breijaha Swain-Garland, a junior English major, will participate in an exchange summer program in the United Kingdom
- Yuchan Zheng, a freshman who has not decided on a major, will participate in a faculty-led summer program in Sweden
“Being awarded this scholarship has truly been a remarkable blessing,” said Swain-Garland. “It fills me with immense gratitude knowing that I can pursue my education in a different country without any financial burden. At Mercer, there’s a genuine commitment to empower students like me to make a positive impact on the world.”
The next cycle for the Global Leader Scholarship will be for spring 2025 programs and will open in mid-September and close in mid-October. For more information, contact the Office of Global Engagement at studyabroad@mercer.edu or visit mercerabroad.com.
