Students from Cañada College, College of San Mateo, and Skyline College applied for the coveted Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) scholarship – a study abroad scholarship which is open to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) students. From the San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD), 11 students applied for a total of $55,000 in funding – this was both unprecedented and extremely exciting since study abroad can often be out of reach for community college students who are eager to study abroad but have little financial means at their disposal.
Students were alerted of this scholarship opportunity by the SMCCCD Study Abroad Office and when they met with Study Abroad staff at Skyline College to apply for the London fall 2016 Semester Abroad Program. Director of Special International Programs, Zaid Ghori, worked with students individually to help them refine and revise their essays to be the most competitive they could be for the scholarship. We would like to thank Skyline College professor, John Ulloa, who helped one of the Skyline College FEA applicants with a letter of recommendation and the financial aid directors –Margie Carrington, Claudia Menjivar, and Regina Morrison – at Cañada College, College of San Mateo, and Skyline College respectively, for working with the students in attesting the financial form that the FEA scholarship requires of all applicants.
A highly competitive scholarship, the FEA strongly encourages students to apply who represent a group that is traditionally underrepresented in study abroad such as minorities, first-generation college students, community college students, students with disabilities, student athletes, veterans and returning learners. Dedicated scholarships are also available to students who identify as LGBTQI. The deadline to apply for the FEA scholarship was January 18, 2016 for study abroad programs in summer 2016, fall 2016 and spring 2017. SMCCCD students will know of their scholarship status by mid-march 2016 according to the FEA website.
SMCCCD Study Abroad is the district-wide study abroad program housed at the Global Learning Programs and Services Division at Skyline College. For more information about the program, and scholarship opportunities please visit the SMCCCD Study Abroad website or contact Zaid Ghori at ghoriz@smccd.edu.
Article by Alina Din
