We are excited to announce our TEAN scholarship winners for 2024 Congratulations to Emily, Jeanie, Jedidiah, Elizabeth, Keira, and Xavier!
From scuba diving at Poor Knights Islands in New Zealand to exploring the street markets of South Korea, our scholarship winners share what they’re looking forward to most while abroad. We asked them a few questions to learn more about their stories too!
MEET OUR Global Opportunity (full ride) Scholarship Winner
Emily V.
Home University: Florida Gulf Coast University
Headed to: Seoul, South Korea
Program: Korea University
What inspired you to pick your study abroad destination? I am already familiar with American and Latin American culture, so I wanted to immerse myself in a unique culture that differed from those I grew up with. I have been interested in Korean culture for a few years. Initially, I was introduced to the culture through K-pop and K-dramas. I came to find that South Korea has a rich history, culture, and language. Over a year ago, I began studying the language to learn more about Korean culture. I am interested in learning about how Korea has been able to preserve its traditions while being one of the fastest-growing countries. As a psychology major, I want to study and explore many issues in the country by understanding them first-hand. I also want to gain a deeper understanding of these issues by immersing myself in the culture and learning from the perspectives of the native people. Seoul, South Korea, seemed the ideal study abroad destination for me because not only do I have a curiosity for the culture, but it is also recognized for having a top-performing education system, and Seoul is at the center of it all.
What does your scholarship mean to you? Being awarded the TEAN Global Opportunity (GO) Scholarship is a tremendous honor. I would have never expected to be the winner of such an honorable scholarship. As a first-generation student, it has been particularly challenging to have the privilege of participating in a study abroad. But I wanted to make my dreams come true, so I started working on scholarships a year in advance. Finances were crucial in ensuring that my study trip abroad was possible. I am thrilled to receive The TEAN Global Opportunity (GO) scholarship, which eliminates a significant financial burden and allows me to focus on making the most of my trip to South Korea. I can expand my knowledge and experience a new culture while obtaining an education that will prepare me for a better professional career.
What are you most looking forward to? My trip abroad will be my first time traveling outside the country. I am looking forward to becoming more independent as I learn to manage studying and living in a foreign country, learn more Korean, and make new friends. I am also excited about all the excursions hosted by TEAN and all the traveling I will be doing exploring different areas of South Korea. But I mainly look forward to how this trip will help me grow personally, academically, and professionally as I live in South Korea for four months.
Meet our diversity Scholarship winners
Elizabeth C.
Home University: Berry College
Headed to: Seoul, South Korea
Program: Korea University Summer Program
What inspired you to pick your study abroad destination? As a trans-racial international adoptee, I’ve always wanted to go back to my birthplace of Seoul, South Korea. That desire has only grown with time as I’ve studied the language and culture (a longtime passion), engaged with its media (shoutout to Seventeen and The Extraordinary Attorney Woo!), and explored my Korean American identity. Truly, as I considered studying abroad, there’s only ever been one possible destination for me, and that’s Seoul, South Korea.
What does your scholarship mean to you? When I opened the email announcing my scholarship, I felt as though the sky had opened and unfurled a banner saying: “Elizabeth Kim Chandler is meant to go to South Korea.” That was pretty cool! But most of all, winning this scholarship feels like a gift to all the family, friends and mentors who have supported me as I’ve explored studying abroad. TEAN’s generous gift to me feels like a recognition of their support of me—truly, each thought I put in my essay, I fleshed out with my loved ones first. So, really, this scholarship means the world to me.
What are you most looking forward to? This is an impossible question for me to answer. I’m so excited for every single experience, from the most extravagant to the most mundane. Intellectually, I’m looking forward to the immersive experience of being in Korea. I’m incredibly excited to improve my Korean and to witness a culture where everyone looks like me. Artistically, I’m excited to capture every monument, café, and street corner in photography and every interaction, conversation, and identity-processing in writing. And as someone raised in a rural area where you have to drive to get anywhere, I’m very excited to experience Korea’s renowned subway system. Oh, and of course, the food! I’m very, very excited about the food!
Jeanie Y.
Home University: Colby College
Headed to: Seoul, South Korea
Program: Korea University
What inspired you to pick your study abroad destination? As a Korean American, I was inspired to pick South Korea as my study abroad destination since I would get the opportunity to connect with my identity and cultural heritage. As someone passionate about sharing Korean culture throughout high school and college, I am excited to fully engage firsthand and share what I’ve learned back home. I am also excited to learn from a different educational perspective at Korea University’s psychology department, another contributing factor to my decision.
What does your scholarship mean to you? The DEI scholarship means to me the opportunity to further engage with my identities as an Asian American, low-income, first-generation student. This opportunity will not only allow me to deepen my understanding of who I am but also enable me to engage and work with communities who share similar experiences during my study abroad. In turn, I hope to help elevate and support others like me back home through experiences and lessons I take away during my time abroad.
What are you most looking forward to? I am most looking forward to immersing myself in the Korean culture and various communities I would like to partake in. Whether it’s engaging with the dance community, volunteering with KUSR, or conversing with my professors, I look forward to learning both in and outside of the classroom. I am excited to get involved and meet new people!
MEET OUR Semester Partnership scholarship winners
Jedidiah L.
Home University: University of Alabama
Headed to: Tokyo, Japan
Program: J.F. Oberlin University
What inspired you to pick your study abroad destination? I chose to study abroad in Japan because of the fascinating culture and way of life there, specifically how old traditions are interwoven with modernity, like finding a shrine next to a skyscraper. It also was the perfect location, as being on the outskirts of Tokyo meant having quick access to both the vibrant city life as well as the quieter, more serene side of Japan.
What does your scholarship mean to you? This scholarship is a massive help in aiding me to study abroad in Japan. It has relieved a load of financial stress I’ve had and is also an affirmation of this goal I’ve had since starting college.
What are you most looking forward to? As someone who has never left the country before, I’m excited to live in a place completely different from where I have been and experience as many new things as I can, from language to culture to food. What I look most forward to is visiting the countryside and more rural towns and seeing some of the beautiful scenery Japan has to offer.
Keira C.
Home University: Drake University
Headed to: Seoul, South Korea
Program: Korea University
What inspired you to pick your study abroad destination? I ultimately chose South Korea as my study abroad destination due to my interest in its history and modern influence on the world. With studying both international relations and communications, I thought South Korea would be the perfect destination to be able to combine these two majors and really be able to grow through my studies. I’m, overall, super excited to explore and learn about everything South Korea has to offer!
What does your scholarship mean to you? For me studying abroad has been a dream for so long, and this scholarship has really helped allow this dream to come true. It really makes me feel like all my hard work has been noticed. I’m incredibly grateful for this scholarship and all the opportunities I’ll be able to have now because of it!
What are you most looking forward to? It’s hard to pick just one thing that I’m excited about, but overall, I am looking forward to really immersing myself in the Korean culture. As someone who wants to work internationally when I am older, I want to take this time to learn and reflect on what makes each country and culture so special. I’m also really excited to try all the different kinds of food, learn a new language, and explore all the different cities South Korea has to offer!
Xavier R.
Home University: University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Headed to: Christchurch, New Zealand
Program: University of Canterbury
What inspired you to pick your study abroad destination? I chose the University of Canterbury in Christchurch for its great civil engineering program and location. I also wanted to travel to New Zealand because of its diversity and culture.
What does your scholarship mean to you? This scholarship takes a massive burden off financing my trip and will allow me to experience more of New Zealand.
What are you most looking forward to? Scuba diving at the Poor Knights Islands.
ABOUT TEAN’S SCHOLARSHIPS
TEAN offers generous scholarships to help make study abroad a reality. No matter your program or term length, we have a variety of merit- or need-based scholarship opportunities for you!
There are also a number of university, local, and national scholarships you may be eligible for. Be sure to check with your Study Abroad and Financial Aid offices to see if they offer any scholarships or additional information.
