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Study Abroad Scholarships Announced

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Study Abroad Scholarships Announced

01/21/2014 

SUNY Cortland recently awarded approximately $39,000 in scholarships and exchange awards to help 58 of its students expand their educational horizons through study in Cape Town, South Africa, Nagasaki, Japan and Cologne, Germany and other countries.

The College, through its International Programs Office (IPO), will provide $29,800 in scholarships so 54 students can study abroad during the 2014 winter session or spring semester. Additionally, through the IPO’s many exchange agreements with international universities, four SUNY Cortland students will receive tuition waivers and grants totaling $9,345 in exchange value to help pay for their international study.

Along with an almost 26 percent increase in direct scholarship funding since last year, the College is giving scholarships to a growing number of students asking for them.

“These scholarships recognize students’ achievements, while expanding access to transformational international experiences that broaden their perspectives, enhance their skills and enrich their academic programs,” said Mary Schlarb, director of international programs.

“Through the generous support of alumni, faculty and friends, the College removes financial barriers to participation in overseas programs,” she said. “Eligible students also can access financial aid and we offer several programs that are equivalent in cost to a semester on campus.”

Recipients were selected based on criteria that included high academic achievement, financial need, involvement in extracurricular activities, a personal essay and letters of recommendation. A description of the scholarships and the award recipients appears below:

Overseas Academic Program (OAP) Award

Overseas Academic Program (OAP) scholarships are awarded to students accepted in a study abroad program. The scholarship is for amounts between $200 and $400 for winter recipients and between $300 and $800 for spring recipients.

Seven winter 2014 OAP scholarship recipients completed a Projects Abroad service learning assignment in Costa Rica:

  • Amanda Candelaria, a junior childhood/early childhood education major from Farmingville, N.Y.;
  • Caitlyn-Marie Clarke, a junior childhood/early childhood education major from Bellmore, N.Y.;
  • Rachel Kolod, a senior childhood/early childhood education major from East Syracuse, N.Y.;
  • Nicole Krause, a senior childhood/early childhood education major from Bohemia, N.Y.;
  • Christina Lopilato, a junior childhood/early childhood education major from Farmingdale, N.Y.;
  • Ashley Mannina, a senior childhood/early childhood education major from Otego, N.Y.; and,
  • Alexandria Olsen, a senior childhood/early childhood education major from Patchogue, N.Y.

Six winter 2014 OAP recipients traveled for fieldwork related to a course in Belize History, Arts and Culture:

  • Robyn Dutkowsky, a senior art and art history major from Vestal, N.Y.;
  • Kaila Fineman, a senior international studies major from New Rochelle, N.Y.;
  • Rachel Miller, a senior international studies major from Hamburg, N.Y.;
  • Valerie Rodriquez, a junior history major from Staten Island, N.Y.;
  • Marie Sullivan, a sophomore therapeutic recreation major from Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; and,
  • Colleen Zimmerman, a junior fitness development major from Wawarsing, N.Y.

Four winter 2014 OAP awardees will study at the Spanish Language Institute, Mexico:

  • Joshua Head, a senior English as a second language major from Trumansburg, N.Y.;
  • Casey Knutson, a senior international studies major from Bayville, N.Y.;
  • Alyson Prunier, a senior biology major from Cortland, N.Y.; and,
  • Amanda Sibbitts, sophomore biomedical science major from Homer, N.Y.

Three winter 2014 OAP scholars pursued academic work in London, England through Cayuga Community College:

  • Courtney DeLia, a senior political science major from McGraw, N.Y.;
  • Caitlin McDonagh, a senior speech and hearing science major from Pearl River, N.Y.; and,
  • Meaghan McElroy, a senior speech and language disabilities major from Carmel, N.Y.
Kaila Fineman
Student Kaila Fineman took this photo, "Locos," last spring while studying at University of Barcelona, Spain. The image won an Honorable Mention in SUNY Cortland's annual study abroad photo contest, as did Gabrielle D'Imperio's  "Y.O.C.O. (You Only Camel Once)," shown above left, which she captured last spring while pursuing academics at University of Salamanca, Spain. 

Three winter 2014 OAP awardees studied in Rome, Italy, through Stony Brook University’s program:

  • Kathryn Delaney, a junior sport management major from Rochester, N.Y.;
  • Mary McGovern, a junior international studies major from Wappingers Falls, N.Y.; and,
  • Taylor Tirellil, a junior childhood/early childhood education major from South Setauket, N.Y.

Two winter 2014 OAP travelers completed internships in Belize. They were:

  • Samantha DeCarlo, a junior psychology major from Canastota, N.Y.; and,
  • Megan Ferguson, a senior geology major from Forestville, N.Y.

The remaining winter 2014 OAP winners used their scholarship as follows:

  • Lauren Judge, a senior speech and language disabilities major from Poughkeepsie, N.Y., for summer scholarship in Australia through Stony Brook University;
  • Jessica Mauceri, a senior criminology major from Staten Island, N.Y., for studies in Greece and Italy through SUNY Brockport.

Three spring 2014 OAP winters used their award for scholarship at University of Salamanca, Spain:

  • Julia Cereghino, a sophomore inclusive special education major from Floral Park, N.Y.;
  • Tess Delaney, a junior sociology major from Bedford Hills, N.Y.; and,
  • Thomas Lee, a sophomore economics major from West Islip, N.Y.

Two spring 2014 OAP students used their scholarship for studies at University College Cork, National University of Ireland:

  • Chelsea Clark, a sophomore speech and language disabilities major from Baldwin, N.Y.; and,
  • Shannon Grodotzke, a junior business economics major from Rocky Point, N.Y.

Two spring 2014 OAP students used their award for academic work in Florence, Italy through Stony Brook University:

  • Jessica Duncan, a junior communication studies major from Seaford, N.Y.; and,
  • Sarah Reilly, a junior Spanish major from Hauppauge, N.Y.

The remaining spring 2014 OAP winners used their scholarship as follows:

  • Rachelle Abelson, a senior adolescence education: mathematics major from Amherst, N.Y., to complete the semester of student teaching requirement in Australia;
  • Gregory Baron, a junior sport management major from New City, N.Y., for scholarship at Griffith University in Australia;
  • Dana Korman, a sophomore communication studies major from Millwood, N.Y., to attend London Metropolitan University; and,
  • Matthew Petrick, a junior psychology major from Camillus, N.Y., for a service learning opportunity in Tanzania through University at Albany.

Charles A. Gibson Study Abroad Scholarship

The Charles A. Gibson Scholarship, which was created in 1998, awards students participating in a study abroad program outside the Western Hemisphere who demonstrate high academic achievement and financial need. Two scholarships were awarded for $1,250 each in spring 2014 to:

  • Lauryn Lucero, a senior communication studies major from Canandaigua, N.Y., to complete a Projects Abroad mission in Cape Town, South Africa; and,
  • Kyle Shea, a senior physical education major from Wallkill, N.Y., to complete his student teaching requirement in Australia.

Kevin A. Rowell ’83 Award

SUNY Cortland graduate Kevin A. Rowell ’83 created the award in 1998 to support the overseas studies of a student who has participated in club sports, student government and volunteer work. The spring 2014 recipient of this $1,500 award is:

  • David Boyle, a sophomore history major from Clifton Park, N.Y., for academic work at Universidad Veritas, Costa Rica. 

Marcia Spaeth McDermott Scholarship

The Marcia Spaeth McDermott Professional Study Abroad Scholarship was created in 2009 by the late, former acting dean of the School of Professional Studies, to support the overseas studies of a SUNY Cortland student majoring in a school program. The recipient of the $1,500 scholarship for spring 2014 is:

  • John Battista, a freshman physical education major from Yorktown, N.Y., for studies in Florence, Italy through Stony Brook University.

Willi Uschald Scholarship

Created in 1991, the Uschald Study Abroad Scholarship is named for Willi A. Uschald, professor emeritus of foreign languages and director emeritus of international programs at SUNY Cortland. Uschald Scholarships are open to students accepted to a study abroad program who are U.S. citizens. The spring 2014 recipients of between $500 and $900 are:

Three students received the scholarships to attend the University of Salamanca, Spain:

  • Dorissell Abreu, a sophomore communication studies major from Freeport, N.Y.;
  • Melissa Driscoll, a junior sociology major from New Hyde Park, N.Y.; and,
  • Joshua Yellen, a sophomore international studies major from Schuylerville, N.Y.

Two students received the scholarships for academic work in Barcelona, Spain through SUNY Oswego:

  • Taylor Backhaus, a junior international studies major from East Aurora, N.Y.; and,
  • Leeanne Bryan, a senior communication studies major from Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Two awardees will study in Dublin, Ireland through SUNY Geneseo:

  • Tara Coogan, a sophomore childhood/early childhood education major from Shenorock, N.Y.; and,
  • Margaret Glenn, a sophomore speech and language disabilities major from Lockport, N.Y.

Two recipients will attend Universidad Veritas, Costa Rica:

  • Erin Kovel, a junior communication studies major from Lido Beach, N.Y.; and,
  • Molly Krug, a sophomore adolescence education: Spanish major from Buffalo, N.Y.

Additional spring 2014 Uschald Scholarship winners include:

  • Stephen Carr, a sophomore physical education major from Northport, N.Y., for studies at Deutsche Sporthochschule in Cologne, Germany.
  • Corey Morris, a sophomore international studies major from Henderson, N.Y., for academic work at Fulda University, Germany;
  • Sean Muldoon, a senior political science major from Vestal, N.Y., for academic work in Nagasaki, Japan through SUNY New Paltz;
  • Michael Pallissino, a senior history major from Cortland, N.Y., for scholarship at University of La Rochelle, France;
  • Lizaury Rodriquez-Marine, a sophomore political science major from Freeport, N.Y., to participate in SUNY Cortland’s Atlantis Scholar Program to Romania; and,
  • Yevgenia Yegorova, a junior sociology major from Farmingdale, N.Y., to complete an internship in Belize.

Gregory R. Huether ’10 Scholarship

A scholarship created in 2010 by Ronald and Marguerite Huether and family honors the memory of their son, Gregory R. Huether ’10. The Gregory R. Huether ’10 European Sport Study Seminar Memorial Scholarship will offer the College’s sport management majors $2,500 for Spring 2014. The recipient is:

  • Brendan McInerney, a sophomore sport management major from Norwich, N.Y., for academic work at the University of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia.

Exchange Awards

The College presented four SUNY Cortland students with exchange awards resulting from agreements with some of the College’s 25 international partner universities, saving the selected students a total of more than $9,000. The partner universities have agreed to waive tuition for students involved in the exchange so that an award recipient pays only the SUNY tuition for the study abroad opportunity.

Two recipients will study at University of Salamanca, Spain:

  • Lyndsey Dolan-King, a junior international studies major from Bay Shore, N.Y.; and,
  • Sarah Kelly, a junior Spanish major from Watervliet, N.Y.

Two others will attend Griffith University in Australia:

  • Siobhan O’Donnell, a sophomore exercise science major from Massapequa Park, N.Y.; and,
  • Brandon Surita, a junior sport management major from New York City, N.Y.

For more information on the scholarships, contact the International Programs Office at 607-753-2209.