WASHINGTON, PA (June 1, 2016) – Washington & Jefferson College (W&J) has been selected to receive a $7,500 grant from the Institute of International Education’s (IIE) Generation Study Abroad initiative, which will support six W&J students during the 2016-17 academic year.
W&J is one of 14 Generation Study Abroad Commitment Partner campuses to receive the grant which, with matching funds from the College, will provide each student with a $2,500 scholarship.
“W&J is extremely proud to be selected as a Generation Study Abroad grant recipient and we are very proud of our students who will benefit from their generous support,” said Michael Shaughnessy, Ph.D., associate dean of graduate studies and international programs at W&J.
Scholarships were awarded to:
- Lovell Johnson ’19 (Canonsburg, Pa.)
- Johnson will study in Cologne, Germany, through a Pennsylvania Colleges in Cologne (PCIC) program.
- Sydney Bynum ’17 (Philadelphia, Pa.)
- Bynum will take classes in the Spatial Planning and Geography department at Radboud University in Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
- Devon Sorantino ’18 (Pitts Grove, N.J.)
- Sorantino will take Spanish, cooking and tropical ecology courses at the University of Costa Rica in San Ramon, Costa Rica.
- Alberto Cortez ’19 (Houston, Texas)
- Cortez will study international business at the University of Valparaíso in Valparaíso, Chile.
- Omashola Ekperigin ’17 (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
- Ekperigin will continue his international studies major at Lingnan University in Hong Kong.
- David Alonso ’19 (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
- Alonso will study at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Quito, Ecuador.
IIE Generation Study Abroad Scholarships strive to make study abroad opportunities accessible to all students, especially those that are typically underrepresented in U.S. study abroad. This scholarship is awarded to students who demonstrate a diversifying factor, such as financial need, an underrepresented ethnic group, a disability, or those who are veterans, student athletes, or have never studied abroad, among other qualifications.
The W&J awardees said they are excited to immerse themselves in new cultures and see how the rest of the world views the United States. Cortez said the realization that resonated most with him is that he will experience a United States Presidential election from more than 5,000 miles away.
“I was told we should get used to people talking about foregin policies and our politics, especially around this election. I’m looking forward to seeing what people say about the United States and how they see it,” he said.
Johnson said he’s anxious about living in a new country, but that he also can’t wait to learn more about German customs and improve his language skills. He said the IIE scholarship will help him accomplish something he’s always wanted to do.
“I’m excited and appreciative, and extremely grateful,” he said.
About Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, located in Washington, Pa., is a selective liberal arts college founded in 1781. Committed to providing each of its students with the highest-quality undergraduate education available, W&J offers a traditional arts and sciences curriculum emphasizing interdisciplinary study and independent study work. For more information about W&J, visit washjeff.dev, or call 888-W-AND-JAY.
