We are excited to announce our ISA scholarship winners for Spring 2025! Congratulations to Bryn, Caleb, Ciarrah, Delisha, Manuela, Nova, Ofeila, and Molly.
From speaking Spanish in Spain to learning about Irish mythology & folklore in Galway, our scholarship winners share what they’re looking forward to most while abroad. We asked them a few questions to learn more about their stories, too!
MEET OUR SEMESTER PARTNERSHIP WINNERS
Bryn E.
Home University: Malone University
Headed to: Seville, Spain
What inspired you to pick your study abroad destination? I chose Spain because it has always held a special place in my heart. When I was in high school, my family hosted three different students from Spain into our homes. They became like siblings to me. They met our extended family, joined us for dinner every evening, and got to explore the United States for the first time with us by their side. By going to Spain, I will have the opportunity to visit them for the first time in four years. Additionally, I too will be staying with a host family and will have the opportunity to integrate fully into their family as the Spanish students had with ours.
What does this scholarship mean to you? Receiving this scholarship has been such an honor. Through this scholarship, I will be able to fulfill my lifelong dream of traveling to Morocco for one of the optional excursions. This scholarship also enables me to not have to take out any loans for this study abroad experience. As a result, I will be able to participate in this study abroad program with greater ease and financial freedom.
What are you most looking forward to? I am most looking forward to being immersed in Spanish culture. I look forward to my daily commute, evenings with my host family, and connecting with the local community. After college, it will become increasingly rare to immerse myself fully in another culture so I plan to make the most of every opportunity.
Caleb E.
Home University: University of New Hampshire
Headed to: Galway, Ireland
What inspired you to pick your study abroad destination? I was inspired to pick Ireland as my study abroad destination due to my interest in ancient and early medieval Irish history as well as Irish culture and language. I also really love hiking, and I’ve heard that the landscape of Ireland is beautiful! I’m excited to see why it’s nicknamed the “Emerald Isle”.
What does this scholarship mean to you? My scholarship gives me the ability to study abroad stress-free, and has taken a huge financial burden off of my shoulders. Without this help, I likely would have had to take out serious loans to help pay for this opportunity.
What are you most looking forward to? I’m most excited for my classes surrounding Irish mythology and folklore, as well as the opportunity to see some real castles for the first time!
Ciarrah D.
Home University: University of Wisconsin – La Crosse
Headed to: Seville, Spain
What inspired you to pick your study abroad destination? I chose this place for its rich culture, beautiful scenery, easy walkability, fantastic weather, and ideal location. It is located in a spot that makes it easy to get to beaches, historical landmarks, and other major cities in Spain. Another thing that interested me about the city of Seville is that it is a bit more affordable to live in compared to other popular cities like Barcelona or Madrid.
What does this scholarship mean to you? This scholarship means so much to me! Since receiving this scholarship, so much stress has been lifted off my shoulders. It has alleviated some of the financial concerns surrounding this trip, allowing me to focus more on my studies and the amazing experiences abroad. This support has also boosted my confidence, assuring me that I will be able to fully embrace this incredible opportunity to explore parts of the world I’ve never seen before.
What are you most looking forward to? I am most looking forward to exploring the city of Seville and the countries surrounding Spain. Additionally, I am excited to get to know other students studying abroad as well as some locals. By connecting with others and navigating my daily life abroad, I am excited to see how much my Spanish skills will advance over just a semester. As a person who loves to try new food, I am also eager to have some authentic European food! The idea of finding local coffee shops and bakeries sounds like so much fun to me!
Delisha V.
Home University: University of Alabama at Birmingham
Headed to: Seville, Spain
What inspired you to pick your study abroad destination? I am excited to study abroad in Spain because I have always appreciated Spanish culture, from the food to the music. I love flamenco dance and living in Sevilla I can experience it firsthand. Living with a host family and tasting local dishes like gazpacho and tapas are definitely motivating factors in my decision. The biggest factor however is the opportunity to practice and improve my Spanish!
What does this scholarship mean to you? This scholarship helps me to achieve my dreams of studying abroad in Spain. I deeply appreciate this opportunity because it has opened doors for me that I otherwise thought were shut. I am eager to have the chance to live in another country, and I have this scholarship to thank for this amazing opportunity!
What are you most looking forward to? I look forward to becoming part of the local community, creating amazing memories, and becoming an independent world traveler.
Manuela D.
Home University: Texas A&M University
Headed to: Florence, Italy
What inspired you to pick your study abroad destination? I was drawn to Florence for its ambiance and the incredible people who make it such a special place. The friendliness and hospitality remind me of my home in Colombia, and living in a city with such a lively spirit is always an extraordinary experience.
What does this scholarship mean to you? This scholarship will enhance my experience by allowing me to fully immerse myself in the culture, pursue as many opportunities as possible, and foster personal growth.
What are you most looking forward to? I am most excited about meeting my community, making strong friendships, and embracing the language and culture of Italy.
Nova J.
Home University: Howard University
Headed to: Rome, Italy
What inspired you to pick your study abroad destination? I have always admired the allure of love and beauty in Rome, made even stronger by their rich history and mythological heroes. Growing up next door to my Italian-American neighbor definitely influenced my choices as well. Her stories felt like something I needed to see for myself and her accent has always been a comfort to me.
What does this scholarship mean to you? I am so grateful to receive this scholarship as I was praying that it would come through so I could save my money for adventures abroad. I want to explore Italy and all it has to offer. This scholarship has allowed me to fund other really exciting excursions offered during the program!
What are you most looking forward to? I am most looking forward to getting away from the echo chamber of my own country and discovering a completely new way of life. I hope that Rome brings out the creativity in me and plan to let my environment inspire my art.
Ofelia M.
Home University: University of Louisville
Headed to: Barcelona, Spain
What inspired you to pick your study abroad destination? What inspired me to pick my study abroad destination is my enthusiasm to learn more about Spanish culture and politics. My focus has primarily been on the U.S., so I want to branch out and learn about Spanish politics and European politics as a whole. Additionally, I want to get better at speaking Spanish, and I also wanted to travel overseas, so Spain was the correct choice for me. The knowledge I will gain from this program will be substantial for my career goals!
What does this scholarship mean to you? This scholarship means a lot to me as it helped alleviate the financial burden I had since the scholarship from my home university did not cover the entirety of the price of the program. Being awarded the scholarship allowed me to continue the process in applying for the program.
What are you most looking forward to? What I am most looking forward to is traveling around the country! I am also incredibly excited for the classes I will take since they all have some relation to political science, which is the degree I am progressing towards.
MEET OUR HOST UNIVERSITY WINNER
Molly E.
Home University: Michigan Tech University
Headed to: London, England
What inspired you to pick your study abroad destination? I’ve always heard about London and the city just seemed so fun to explore and meet new people in. I’m excited that I’ll finally be able to see it in person. I love that it has so much history and pretty architecture while being so close to other cities I might want to travel to.
What does this scholarship mean to you? I’m so thankful for this scholarship because it takes some of the financial stress off my shoulders. I was already a little hesitant about going abroad because of the cost, but financial aid like this scholarship is so helpful! I can’t thank the university enough for this opportunity.
What are you most looking forward to? I’m most excited for the chance to meet new people and explore a brand-new environment! I’ve always wanted to live in or visit a big city and this is the perfect time to. Coming from a small town, I haven’t had many chances to see different cultures and busy city life. I’m looking forward to seeing how I’ll handle this new experience.
ABOUT ISA’S SCHOLARSHIPS
ISA offers generous scholarships to help make study abroad a reality. No matter your program or term length, we have a variety of merit- or need-based scholarship opportunities for you!
There are also a number of university, local, and national scholarships you may be eligible for. Be sure to check with your Study Abroad and Financial Aid offices to see if they offer any scholarships or additional information.
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