From Meadville to anywhere
Study away scholarships reemphasized before 2023 applications due
One of the unique features of college life is to study in countries other than your own.
Allegheny College offers a number of different scholarship opportunities for those students who want to study abroad.
One of these scholarship opportunities is known as the Blair Hanson Scholarship, which was originally established in 1981.
This award was established in 1981 following the retirement of Blair Hanson, professor of French and the chair of the Modern Languages Department, as a way to encourage students’ participation in study abroad programs.
The Blair Hanson Scholarship can be awarded to those students interested in taking part in a one-semester or two-semester program in a different country.
Briana Lewis, Associate Professor and Chair of the World Languages and Cultures Department spoke about the purpose of this scholarship.
“I think that students sometimes face challenges when they are planning to study away, and we have a lot of really good sponsored programs and students who go on sponsored programs take all their financial aid with them. So you pay Allegheny the same as you normally would and then Allegheny pays the sponsored program,” Lewis said.
By taking advantage of this scholarship, students will be able to take advantage of the opportunities that being in a different country give them without having to worry about finances.
Additionally, Lewis spoke more about where the students interested in studying abroad travel most frequently.
“Our language students usually go to a place where the language is spoken,” Lewis said. “So for Spanish, we have Spain, Costa Rica. We have a bunch in Costa Rica.”
The information regarding this scholarship was sent out to students in a mass email by Pauline Lanzine, Alden Hall building coordinator.
Information required for the submission of the Blair Hanson Scholarship Award Application include a personal essay describing the reasons to study in another country, their specific goals and plans for the period abroad, and its relationship to an academic program in foreign languages at Allegheny College.
I think that students sometimes face challenges when they are planning to study away, and we have a lot of really good sponsored programs and students who go on sponsored programs take all their financial aid with them.
— Briana Lewis Associate Professor and Chair of the World Languages Department
To be considered for the award, the quality of the essay will be evaluated, as well as active participation in cultural and academic activities demonstrating the integration of language study into life at Allegheny College, a major or minor in a specific language department, seriousness of purpose with regard to language study, and completion of interview with a selection panel from the Department of World Languages and Cultures.
However, the Blair Hanson Scholarship is not the only scholarship opportunity that is offered to those pursuing a degree in the International Studies and World Languages and Cultures departments.
Brita Doyle, the Assistant Dean for Global Education, spoke about the different school, state and federal scholarships that are being offered to those students interested in potentially studying abroad next year.
Doyle elaborated more on three particular scholarships, including the Gilman Scholarship, the Critical Language Scholarship, and the Fund for Education Abroad.
“The Gilman scholarship is a specific study abroad scholarship for students who get the Pell Grant,” Doyle said “So if an Allegheny student is planning on studying abroad and they received the Pell Great, they should absolutely apply for the Gilman scholarship because it is a scholarship just for them.”
Doyle also explained that there are some scholarships that are meant to provide scholarships for those in underrepresented communities, such as the LGBTQ+ community.
The Critical Language Scholarship Program is a summer study abroad opportunity meant to provide American students the access and opportunity to help them to start their language learning journeys, and is typically meant to help students learn the languages that are not offered on college campuses.
The Fund for Education Abroad Scholarship is meant to provide monetary support for undergraduates in the United States who are least likely to study abroad, as a result of financial troubles.
While the application process is already closed for some of these programs, the application window for the studying abroad scholarships for spring 2023 will open soon.
Because of the benefits that come from studying abroad, there are a variety of scholarships that allow for students to do so, free from the concern of financial troubles.
Doyle, who had the opportunity to study abroad in Finland, Spain and Chile, spoke about the benefits that students can gain from studying abroad.
“I believe my experiences abroad opened my eyes to other ways of doing things, other ways to communicate, and it broadened my horizons and exposed me to so many more opportunities that I was then able to pursue down the line,” Doyle said.
(My experience abroad) broadened my horizons and exposed me to so many more opportunities that I was then able to pursue down the line.
— Brita Doyle, Assistant Dean for Global Education
