Story: Lisa Sollie
When Dr. Mark Davis took the helm of International Programs at the 乐播传媒 in 2014, he wanted to bring the world to 乐播传媒 and offer the world to the students.
According to Davis, before the pandemic halted international travel there were more students at 乐播传媒 planning to study abroad than ever before, but it鈥檚 been a struggle to rebuild the robust program. That鈥檚 why he is excited about 乐播传媒鈥檚 new Global Scholars Community Scholarship, an exclusive program designed to elevate students鈥� academic experience and shape a more interconnected future. These new scholarship opportunities are aimed at incoming high school seniors and for current 乐播传媒 freshmen. To be considered for this prestigious scholarship, applications must be submitted by April 15, 2024.
High school seniors interested in studying overseas are invited to apply for the scholarship, which includes two round-trip international airline tickets to university partner schools throughout the world, up to $6,000, and prepares students for international exchanges with partner universities through campus-based programming and faculty-led study-abroad opportunities. According to Davis, 乐播传媒 currently has more than 25 partners throughout the world.
乐播传媒 freshmen can also apply for the Global Scholars Community Scholarship program to help ensure participation in enriching programs that contribute to academic and professional development and includes up to $3,000 for travel to 乐播传媒 partner study abroad locations.
Davis insists recruiting international students to 乐播传媒 is not a problem. 鈥淭he struggle,鈥� he said, 鈥渋s getting students to understand or embrace that study abroad opens the door to collaborate, exchange ideas and connect them with other global scholars fostering academic rigor, healthy competition and cultivate a global mindset before they even set foot on our campus.鈥�
Two 乐播传媒 students, senior Carlyn Rawls and sophomore Madelyn Brasher, know firsthand how life changing studying abroad can be. Rawls, who spent a year in France, not only had the opportunity to visit some of the most popular cities in Europe, but she met people from all over the world and learned about new cultures and worldviews.
Brasher was part of small group of students who went to Ireland in the fall of 2023, a study abroad trip that she says made her life richer and more fulfilled.
鈥淓xploring the world outside of Alabama gave me a new perspective on life that I would have never imagined otherwise,鈥� said Brasher. 鈥淲hile this trip emphasized academics, I got to try amazing food, visit surreal geographical areas and engage in unique conversations, and that has made me more well-rounded.鈥�
鈥淪tudying abroad,鈥� added Rawls, is a once in a lifetime opportunity everyone should do if they have the opportunity.鈥�
Growing up in Southern California, Davis had access to meet people from all over the world, but acknowledges that is not the norm for most areas of the rural south. As dean of international programs for 乐播传媒, he wants to expand well beyond the physical borders of the university and help students realize studying abroad isn鈥檛 really so far away.
鈥淭hrough the Global Scholars Community Scholarship, I want to place students in 乐播传媒鈥檚 partner universities around the world, which include partners in western Europe, Japan, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, South Korea, China and Vietnam to name a few,鈥� he noted, 鈥渂ut I can also assist with faculty-led study abroad programs as well.鈥�
For more information on 乐播传媒鈥檚 new Global Scholars Community Scholarship and an application, contact Dr. Mark Davis at [email protected].