Study abroad scholarships are crucial for enabling access to international education, fostering cultural exchange, promoting global understanding, and empowering students to pursue enriching experiences beyond their home countries.

With support from the Stanley-UI Foundation Support Organization, the Global Access Ambassador Scholarship program provides up to 10, $1,000 Global Access Ambassador Scholarships for the spring and fall semesters or academic year, and up to 10 scholarships for the summer and winter sessions.

The scholarship is intended to support students who study abroad with the intent to serve as Global Access Ambassadors upon their return to the UI campus, with special consideration given to students with a history of overcoming adversity to pursue personal, academic, or professional goals.

Phillip Samaniego, a fourth-year marketing and entrepreneurship major with a Spanish minor from West Des Moines, Iowa, is studying this spring on the CIEE Barcelona Business & Culture program.

“I am most excited about growing my Spanish skills. Being immersed in the language is super important to my personal growth. I'm also very excited about travel opportunities during my free time! I picked CIEE Barcelona because of its great course selection along with the rich culture and history of Barcelona and Spain as a whole. Studying abroad is important to me so I can grow my personal skills, experience the world, and stand out to employers.”