Bria Huff
Syracuse University senior Bria Huff, sophomore Ellenora Huth and junior Alexis Stackhouse made many discoveries during their summer study-abroad experiences last year through Syracuse Abroad.
Huff and Stackhouse studied in Madrid, Spain, and Huth in Strasbourg, France. They each immersed themselves in the history, culture and language, built their confidence, and learned more about themselves in the process.
These kinds of opportunities will now be available to more Syracuse students. For the first time, more than $1 million in aid has been allocated to Syracuse Abroad summer study-abroad programs through the creation of funding that will be allocated as financial aid to undergraduate students in several need categories. Syracuse Abroad will also offer additional $1,000 merit-based scholarships for undergraduates who apply to any summer 2020 study abroad program.
The summer grants of up to $9,000 will be allocated to students in medium, high and high-plus need categories who are applying to summer programs at the Syracuse Abroad centers in Florence, Italy; London, England; Madrid; and Strasbourg.
Undergraduates can apply for a merit scholarship by completing an application by Thursday, Jan. 30. A limited number of the competitive scholarships will be awarded based on academic records and on the review of a personal essay or a personal statement video. Eligible students must have a GPA of 3.4 or higher and have already completed a summer program application. A selection committee will review all applicants. More information and the application are available online.
Ellenora Huth
Erika Wilkens, associate provost and executive director of Syracuse Abroad, encourages students to take advantage of summer study abroad programs and make their Syracuse Abroad dream a reality without missing any aspects of campus life.
“This generous and unprecedented funding to support summer study abroad has been put in place in direct response to feedback from students, parents, faculty and staff,” Wilkens says. “Summer is now a much more viable option for all students and particularly those for whom semester-long study abroad is not feasible. We are very excited that more students will now have the opportunity to experience our fantastic faculty-led programs, as well as our center summer sessions.”
The deadline to submit summer program applications is Monday, Feb. 10.
The varied summer abroad programs include “Paris Noir: Literature, Art and Contemporary Life in Diaspora in Paris, France,” which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. “Paris Noir” participants study the influence and dynamics of black culture, literature and experience in Paris, past and present. A generous donor has given $50,000 to be used for financial aid for students applying for “Paris Noir.” Other summer programs include “Australia: Sport, History & Culture”; “Middle East Policy & Security Studies”; “Three Cities Architecture Studio in Asia”; and “Medieval Sicily: Transformations at a Cultural Crossroads,” as well as summer sessions in Madrid, Florence, London and Strasbourg. Several internship programs are offered in various locations around the world, including Singapore and Tel Aviv, Israel.
Alexis Stackhouse
Summer study-abroad students learn both in and out of the classroom. Stackhouse, a television-radio-film major in the Newhouse School, took a class in media, film and pop culture in Madrid. She says one of the highlights of her experience was meeting native Spanish speakers. “I think the most meaningful way that I maximized my experience was by being friendly and outgoing in social settings, so that I could make Spanish-speaking and local friends to get more authenticity out of the activities I was doing and outings I was going on,” she says.
While in Strasbourg, Huth, a political science and sociology major in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Maxwell School, took a class on law, religion and human rights, and lived with a host family. She says the experience gave her the opportunity to get to know herself better. “I definitely recommend summer programs because they are the perfect length of time, especially if you are unsure if you want to go abroad,” she says. “The program is long enough to experience the location you are visiting, but it is still short enough that it is not overwhelming.”
Huff, a psychology major in the College of Arts and Sciences, visited various Spanish cities during her experience. She went to the tourist attractions, but also did a lot of exploring of different pockets and neighborhoods around Madrid to immerse herself in the culture and get a deeper understanding of an unfamiliar place. “I went with an open mind and no expectations because it was my first time abroad,” she says. “Studying abroad in Spain impacted me because I was able to create new situations for myself and explore who I am in new contexts. I was able to step out of my comfort zone. I encountered so many people from various walks of life and realized even though we come from different backgrounds we share more similarities than may be assumed. … Studying abroad is transforming and will shape your views, perspectives and your purpose in life.”
For more information on summer study-abroad opportunities, contact Marie Kulikowsky, Syracuse Abroad assistant director of summer and faculty-led programs, at mkulikow@syr.edu.
