Two First Generation Undergraduates Receive Fund for Education Abroad Scholarships
April 7, 2021
Two Baruch College undergraduates—who are both first generation students—have been selected to receive scholarships from the Fund for Education Abroad Program and now have an opportunity to continue their academic studies overseas.
Allison Lai (’22) and Nayancie Matthews (’22) are among only 24 applicants from across the country who were chosen to be Fund for Education (FEA) scholars for spring 2021. This year, scholars have the option to defer their study abroad through spring 2022 to accommodate international travel and other disruptions resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The nonprofit’s mission is to provide scholarships and ongoing support to students who are underrepresented among the U.S. study abroad population. FEA makes life-changing, international experiences accessible to all by supporting minority and first-generation college students before, during, and after they participate in education abroad programs. Since FEA’s inception in 2010, 614 students have benefited from more than $2.2 million in scholarships.
Meet Baruch’s Fund for Education Abroad Scholars
Allison Lai: An Aspiring Product Manager in Technology
Allison Lai (’22), who is majoring in international business at the Zicklin School of Business with double minors in Japanese and marketing, is planning to study at Waseda University in Japan during the Fall 2021 semester with her FEA scholarship.
“I was ecstatic to hear that I was offered the FEA scholarship because it was a fresh change during Covid-19, as was having trouble adjusting to virtual learning,” Lai said. “This opportunity reaffirms my passion for travel as I look forward to attending the autumn festivals and celebrating the new year in Japan. They have unique practices and events so it will be lovely to experience them myself!”
Studying Japanese at Baruch for two years is one of the main reasons Lai set her sights on Japan.
“I want to be able to fluently speak the language, and one of the best ways to improve and speak a language is to immerse yourself in the host county. It forces you to interact with your environment so this is a huge motivator,” Lai added. “Also, as an aspiring product manager in technology, I think this is a great way to directly improve my intercultural and leadership skills as I grow in my career.”
Nayancie Matthews: Create a Documentary on Socio-Economic Development of Spain
Nayancie Matthews (’22) is majoring in international business at the Zicklin School of Business and is minoring in finance and Spanish. Matthews is using her FEA study abroad award, the NAFSA Tamara H. Bryant Memorial Scholarship, to travel to Spain in the fall.
“When I first received the FEA acceptance I was overjoyed and could not imagine that I had won the award,” Matthews said. “However, I was very delighted because I had put an enormous amount of work into the application.”
Matthews has already lived in South America and the Eastern Caribbean, and is now planning to use this opportunity to create a documentary on the socio-economic development of Spain.
“I am hoping that studying abroad will broaden my cultural horizons and create valuable experiences and connections with others,” Matthews said. “I am excited to learn a new skill set of being able to communicate across cultures as well as a new sense of personal and professional goals.”
Learn about Baruch’s Fellowships Advising Office
Baruch College’s Office of National & Prestigious Fellowships Advising supports students throughout the application process for several sought-after scholarships and fellowships, including the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, Fulbright program, Freeman-ASIA, Jeannette K. Watson, and Venture for America.
Watch: View this video where Valeria Hymas, deputy director of National & Prestigious Fellowships Advising at Baruch College, discusses how Baruch College helps student’s with the application process to win awards, and hear previous student-award winners explain the benefits of utilizing this office’s resources.
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