Study Away Diversity Initiative Scholarship

In November 2017, the Study Away Diversity Initiative Scholarship was established with Winona State University Foundation. The scholarship will benefit and encourage first generation and underrepresented students to participate in a semester or academic year study away program who might not otherwise consider it because they do not have the financial resources to do so.

Criteria
1. Recipient must:
a. be an undergraduate student enrolled full-time and in good standing with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher at Winona State University;
b. have sophomore, junior, or senior status;
c. be a U.S. citizen;
d. be able to demonstrate financial need, but demonstrated need should not be based solely on FAFSA;
e. be a first generation college student, and/or be a student from an ethnically underrepresented group;
f. have never before participated in a WSU study away semester or academic year program;
g. meet any regular eligibility criteria established by the International Programs office.
2. The award winner must study away for a semester or academic year on an approved WSU international program.
3. As part of the application process for this scholarship, the student must submit a letter of interest in which they respond to this question: “Tell us why you are applying for this scholarship. In particular, we are interested to know what is motivating you to have a study away experience, what financial need this award would meet, and what you hope to accomplish through a study away opportunity. In other words, tell us about yourself, and why this award might be important for you..

Background and Motivation
Data show that first generation students and students of color are far less likely to study away than their white and middle class counterparts, often because they do not have the funds or encouragement to do so. Yet recent research about the value of study away for these students proves that it has a substantial positive effect on their academic performance and satisfaction, improving retention, time to graduation, and GPA. The semester study away experience of one of us serves as evidence of this. Jim received a scholarship to attend a state university in upstate New York, but felt isolated as a Puerto Rican, first generation student at a predominantly white institution. He was very close to dropping out when he was told about a semester in London program. This experience was transformative academically and personally, and Jim credits this opportunity as an important factor in helping him graduate, go on to earn a doctorate, and have a long career as a professor in higher education. Carolyn has spent the past decade working in the field of education abroad and has seen first-hand the powerful effect that a study away experience can have on students. Through this scholarship we hope to foster increased diversity among those Winona State University students who are able to study away.