Traveling abroad has the potential to be life changing for anyone.
Dr. Murle Mordy, international student advisor, knows firsthand.
“I’ve drawn on my time abroad and can relate because of my experiences,” he said. “Students have the opportunity to see new culture and it can help them in their futures as well.”
Mordy was surprised by the number of applicants for the fall of 2009 for the Jerry Campbell Cross-Cultural Scholarship and the Fujiwara Homestay/Teaching Program.
The Campbell scholarship is given in honor of Jerry Campbell, who planned to study abroad before he was killed in an automobile accident.
The Fujiwara scholarship helps students understand Japanese culture by staying with a Japanese family and teaching English at Eduport, the Fujiwara English Studio.
“I wish we had more money to send everyone,” Mordy said. “We had more applicants we could award money to, we had many to consider.”
On the board for the Jerry Campbell Cross-Cultural Scholarship are Murle Mordy, Bud McCluney, Kelly Fish-Greenley, Connie Meredith and Bob Meredith. The Merediths are graduates of the class of 1971, the class that Campbell would’ve graduated in.
Sophomores Jacqueline Robinson, Jake McMillian and Matthew Merrill are the recipients for the Jerry Campbell scholarship and will be using them to travel abroad this summer.
Lee Naïve, sophomore, was the recipient for the Fujiwara scholarship.
Each student who was interested in the scholarship filled out a one-page questionnaire, a description of their proposal and two reference forms. They were also required to submit their transcript and interview in front of the scholarship board.
“We’d like students to have a clear idea of what their project is,” Mordy said. “And how it will benefit them when they travel. When students are interested in the Fujiwara scholarship, we look for previous tutoring experience, since that’s what they’ll be doing in Japan.”
Having filled out questionnaires and picking their place of study is key before interviews take place.
“I think the interviewing process was pretty relaxed,” Sophomore Jake McMillian, English major, said. “Students should know why they want to travel abroad, why they deserve the scholarship and how they will be representing OU while studying abroad before they go into the interview.”
However, the interviewing process was a little nerve-wracking for some.
“I was extremely nervous,” Sophomore Jacqueline Robinson, biology major said. “I know I smiled a lot and answered honestly. There were a lot of people there that deserved it as much as I did.”
Robinson is using her scholarship to travel to Scotland this summer.
“This scholarship helps a lot and I’m honored to have received it,” she said. “I think it’s great that this scholarship exists in Jerry Campbell’s honor.”
An honor that students have gotten the chance to share this semester.
“Anytime when you have the opportunity to experience someone else’s culture, do it,” McMillian said.
McMillian is also using his scholarship to travel to Scotland.
“It’s an honor I’ve been given this scholarship,” he said. “It’s exciting, and I’m excited to have been given the opportunity to experience new culture in Scotland.”
Mordy hopes to receive even more applicants next year for both the Jerry Campbell and Fujiwara scholarships. Those who are interested in broadening their horizons cross-culturally are encouraged to apply for these scholarships.
Priority is given to returning students, but seniors will be considered if they meet the requirements. After their trips, students speak at an ACE event to encourage applications to come in for the fall.
“I encourage students to think about it, and see if there’s any way to study abroad because it’s a life changing experience,” Mordy said.
An experience that will change some of the students lives, just like it did Mordy’s.
“I think it’ll open my eyes so I won’t be stuck in my box,” Robinson said. “It’ll give me an outside look, an opportunity to experience things brand new and disconnect me from my current world.”