Study Abroad Fair Inspires Students to Think Globally
Students had the opportunity to talk about studying abroad with different agencies and on-campus offices during Thursday, Sept. 19's Study Abroad Fair.
Galloway, N.J. – According to the Office of Global Engagement, the idea that studying abroad is an experience exclusive to the most privileged of students is not only a myth but a harmful one at that.
“I want students to know that education abroad can be accessible, affordable and for every student,” said Patty Sagasti-Suppes, the office’s director.
She made her point by simply gesturing to the jam-packed hallway of the Campus Center, where Thursday, Sept. 19’s Study Abroad Fair took place.
Tables lined the hallways as students perused and received resources from representatives of different education abroad agencies, including Semester at Sea and the Center for International Studies.
The meeting rooms hosted workshops that explored topics including passport and visa processes, programs that enable students and faculty to study abroad – such as the Benjamin A. Gilman and Fulbright programs – and how to advise students on best practices as a staff or faculty member.
Students like Kira Brown from Marlboro, New York, and Oluwashefunmi Ajayi-Joseph from Lindenwold had the opportunity to consider the logistics of studying abroad and how best it would fit into their college careers.
“I was thinking about one program where you could do an internship abroad, so you kind of get two for the price of one,” Brown, a Marine Science major, said. “(Through the fair) You’re able to see the different opportunities and experiences you could have abroad.”
“Last week, I went to the office, and they told me about the fair today, and I was like, ‘Ooh, I want to go.’ But I had class, so I got permission from my teacher to come here instead,” said Ajayi-Joseph, a Criminal Justice major. “I saw a lot of programs that I’m interested in, so now, I have to go back to my dorm and think about what I want and what I don’t want and what programs would benefit me and give me opportunities. I want to go to Europe, like maybe the United Kingdom.”
Even students like Psychology senior Jocelyn Gonzalez, who already had an idea of where and what program they wanted to pursue, felt that the fair was helpful.
The Bordentown resident plans to study abroad in Barcelona, Spain, during the spring term through WorldStride’s International Study Abroad program, so she attended the information session hosted by Sara Kochuba, one of their representatives.
“Once I found out that I worked hard enough to graduate within three years, (studying abroad) became kind of like a reward for myself, and my mom loves Spain, so she definitely pushed me to have this study-abroad experience,” Gonzalez said. “I’m looking forward to the cultural immersion and to going somewhere different while staying in touch with the Spanish culture.”
– Story by Loukaia Taylor
– Photos by Lizzie Nealis
Competitive Scholarship Enables Students to Experience Japan
September 20, 2024
Galloway, N.J. – Thanks to receiving a scholarship from the Benjamin A. Gilman Program, Stockton University seniors Abu Shahariah and Avery Garlic had a life-changing study-abroad experience in Japan this summer.
Both Shahariah and Garlic have frequent flyer miles already – Shahariah, a Computer Information Systems major, has traveled to places like the United Arab Emirates, Mexico and Bangladesh, and Garlic, a Fine Arts major, had just joined a spring break study to Greece with the Military-Affiliated Students of Stockton. When they heard about the upcoming study to Japan last fall, they separately reached out to the Office of Global Engagement to check the country off their bucket list.
The office’s director, Patty Sagasti Suppes, reviewed their eligibility and suggested that they consider applying for the Gilman program, a U.S. Department of State initiative that enables students who receive the federal Pell Grant to study abroad.
“Back in September 2023, part of me felt like I was missing something in my college experience, even though I was well involved on campus, so I went to the Office of Global Engagement just because I was curious, and I realized that studying abroad was an opportunity to do something I’ve never done before. In December, I got notification from the Gilman scholarship that I received a lot of money that fully covered my tuition, room and board. I was very excited. I told my family and my friends that I believe that this was going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Shahariah said.
– Story by Loukaia Taylor
Fair Hopes to Dispel Myths About Studying Abroad
January 31, 2024
Galloway, N.J. — Louis Santiago-Conde loves to travel, but he never thought he could afford to study abroad.
But the first-year student’s world view has totally changed after attending the Education Abroad Fair in the Multicultural Center on Jan. 30.
“I learned that financial aid can help, and that definitely made me more excited,” said the esports management major, who wants to go to England where gaming 'is one of the biggest things.'”
“I was just walking by, but once they started talking to me, I got interested right away,” said the Camden native. “It was a very positive and awesome experience.”
The idea that studying abroad is too expensive is one of the myths that senior Nikki Troehler would like to dispel. She works in the Office of Global Engagement and is traveling to Greece this summer to finish her Liberal Studies degree with minors in Global Studies and Historical Studies.
“I didn’t know that studying abroad was a thing coming from a first-generation background,” said the Mays Landing native, who has traveled back and forth several times to Greece with her Yaya, or grandmother. “Aside from my personal experiences, I didn’t think this was accessible. I thought it was too expensive. I thought it would delay graduation.
“And all of those myths can be busted.”
— Story by Mark Melhorn, photos by Susan Allen
