MACON – Mercer University’s Office of Global Engagement recently awarded its latest round of Global Leader Scholarships (GLS), providing 20 students with a total of $64,945 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 up to $5,000 for programs of three to eight weeks and up to $3,000 for programs shorter than three weeks.
“Our office is very excited about the students who received the scholarship this cycle and the amazing things they will accomplish on their programs overseas,” said Emily Dunn, assistant director of global education. “Mercer’s tagline – ‘Everyone majors in changing the world’ – is embodied in this scholarship, which encourages students to give back to the Mercer community and become global leaders both on and off Mercer’s campus.”
Of the 20 students who received the most recent scholarships, seven will participate in semester-long exchange or affiliate programs and 13 will join spring break faculty-led programs. They include:
- Ekiko Aiken, a senior communications major with a focus in public relations, will participate in a faculty-led trip to Guatemala.
- Cierra Crawford, a senior Spanish and global health studies double-major, will participate in a faculty-led trip to Mexico.
- Donnell Cudjoe, a junior media studies major, will participate in an exchange program to the United Kingdom.
- Sophia Denisar, a junior management major, will participate in a faculty-led trip to France.
- Lauren Dichiera, a sophomore international business major, will participate in an exchange program to South Korea.
- Lea Dulcio, a senior global health studies and Spanish double-major, will participate in a faculty-led trip to Portugal.
- Toni Fedrowiz, a senior criminal justice leadership major, will participate in a faculty-led trip to Guatemala.
- Garrett Golubeff, a junior accounting and finance double-major, will participate in an exchange program to Spain.
- Caden Hamrick, a senior computer engineering major, will participate in a faculty-led trip to South Africa.
- Sydel Idehen, a junior accounting and Spanish double-major, will participate in an exchange program to Spain.
- McKenna Kaufman, a senior international affairs and journalism double-major, will participate in a faculty-led trip to Portugal.
- Angel Monje Casas, a junior data science and finance double-major, will participate in an affiliate program to Iceland.
- Thomas Patrick, a senior accounting major, will participate in a faculty-led trip to Mexico.
- Hina Qureshi, a senior public health major, will participate in a faculty-led trip to Portugal.
- Sabrina Raju, a sophomore chemical commerce major, will participate in an exchange program to the United Kingdom.
- Ladji Ruffin, a sophomore criminal justice leadership major, will participate in a faculty-led trip to Guatemala.
- Tanvi Sarma, a sophomore neuroscience major, will participate in an exchange program to South Korea.
- Elizabeth Stinson, a junior global development studies and global health studies double-major, will participate in a faculty-led trip to Italy.
- Diana Tejera-Berrios, a junior biochemistry and Spanish double-major, will participate in a faculty-led trip to Italy.
- Matthew Thompson, a junior chemical commerce and French double-major, will participate in a faculty-led trip to France.
The next cycle for the GLS will be for summer 2023 and fall 2023 programs and will be open Feb. 7-March 7. For more information, contact the Office of Global Engagement at studyabroad@mercer.edu or visit mercerabroad.com.
Featured photo: Front row (l-r): Elizabeth Stinson, Laura Dichiera, Cierra Crawford. Middle row: Toni Fedrowiz, Donnell Cudjoe, Sydel Idehen, Diana Tejera-Berrios. Back row: Lea Dulcio, Thomas Patrick, Matthew Thompson. Photo by Lauren Kraft.
