Two Students Receive UA Away Scholarships to Study Abroad

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama Division of Student Affairs has named two students as recipients of the spring 2013 UA Away scholarship, a scholarship initiative that supports learning opportunities for students to work, serve or study away.

The UA Away scholarship recipients are Eric Dixon of Montgomery, a senior studying management with a global business concentration who will be studying in Havana, Cuba, for the spring semester, and Cori Fain of Mount Olive, a junior majoring in international studies and Spanish who will travel to Seville, Spain, during the spring.

“We had an outstanding applicant pool for the spring 2013 UA Away scholarships and it was a tough decision, but the chosen recipients both portray a dedication to learning about different cultures and showed a direct link between their study away experience and their academic and career goals,” said Dr. Mark Nelson, vice president for student affairs and vice provost.

The main goal of the UA Away scholarship initiative is to provide students with unique learning opportunities to study in a different environment, serve others and experience on-the-job training.

Both UA Away scholarship recipients are participating in academic programs for the entire spring semester. Dixon will be participating in the UA in Cuba program. His interest in Cuban relations has led him to this opportunity where he will enroll at the University of Havana while also conducting preliminary research.

“This study abroad program will give me an unparalleled look into the economic and business environments of a country going through transition,” Dixon said, adding that he looks forward to “the knowledge and experience that will be gained by being immersed in the culture and being able to discuss topics with local business owners and citizens. This opportunity will be invaluable to my future success, not only as a student but also as a contributing member of the workforce.”

Fain is interested in the language and culture component of her semester-long study abroad program in Spain. Fain will be enrolled at the University of Seville where she will take courses in language and humanities. “This trip will benefit me immensely in multiple ways including improvement of my Spanish language comprehension skills, first-hand cultural knowledge and developing a real sense of myself as I enter a completely new and unfamiliar place,” she said. “All of these things will better prepare me to successfully approach my future goals.”

By committing their spring semester to learning about other cultures, these students exhibit global citizenship, a learning priority for the Division of Student Affairs. The UA Away scholarship initiative funds students in need of financial support to make these experiences possible.

For more information about study away and work away, explore Capstone International online at international.ua.edu. To learn about serve away opportunities, visit the Community Service Center online at volunteer.ua.edu. UA Away scholarship applications will be available again in the spring for summer and fall 2013 work, serve and study away programs on sa.ua.edu.

The Division of Student Affairs maximizes each UA student’s learning experience. Learn more about the Division of Student Affairs by visiting sa.ua.edu and connecting with Student Affairs on Facebook at facebook.com/bamastudentlife and on Twitter at twitter.com/bamastudentlife.