Abby Tranel learned of 内raska Wesleyan University’s study abroad program through her liberal arts seminar taken as a first year student.
“When I heard about it I immediately knew I had to do it,” said the senior political science major from Aurora, 内.
但该去哪里? 欧洲? Everyone likes to study in 欧洲, she thought. 加纳? Might be interesting but she really likes warm showers, she admitted. Then she saw South Africa was a possibility.
Tranel spent the spring semester of her sophomore year in South Africa. Now she’ll return there — this time for an entire year — thanks to a Boren Scholarship.
The Boren Scholarship is awarded to approximately 150 undergraduate students across the nation to help encourage study abroad to areas of the world that are critical to U.S. interests and underrepresented in study abroad. The award provides up to $20,000 for the students’ studies. Tranel is the 13th 内raska Wesleyan University student to win a Boren Scholarship.
Tranel will attend the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, located on the east coast of South Africa where she will study the Zulu language as well as the country’s culture and history.
“Going back now armed with more life experience, confidence and maturity, I know I will spend less time attempting to survive day to day life and really learn, live and continue to grow,”她说。.
Tranel said she is particularly interested in post-conflict nations, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Her goal is to one day become a Foreign Service Officer with USAID or the Department of State.
“In my career I intend to utilize the experience the Boren will procure, combined with my passion for international development and foreign policy to improve lives of those around the world, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa,”她说。.
“I look forward to once again living in a culturally rich, 多样化的, and intellectually challenging environment,她接着说. “I can’t wait to see where this new experience takes me and again helps to shape and mold my life goals.”
Tranel is one of six 内raska Wesleyan University students to win national prestigious scholarships 今年. In addition to the Boren Scholarship, four students have won Fulbright 奖学金 (Alex Bednar, Czech Republic; Nicole Spry, Vietnam; Kyle Karthauser, Germany; Meera Bhardwaj, Cameroon) and one student has won a Critical Language Scholarship (Matthew Carlson, 中东地区).