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Four ������Ƶ students, TJ Wirtz, Zee Sweeney, Meeka Harris and Aaliyah Byrd, had the opportunity to take their education beyond the classroom after earning nationally competitive scholarships to pursue study abroad and intensive language-learning opportunities around the world.

Their accomplishments span academic interests and destinations, from Ireland and South Korea to France and Morocco, and highlight the impact of global learning opportunities on the ������Ƶ undergraduate experience.

“These students demonstrate not only academic excellence but also initiative, curiosity, perseverance, and a willingness to pursue opportunities outside of their comfort zones,” said Julie Good, manager of Education Away Center for International Services and Programs. “These nationally competitive scholarships represent recognition of their potential and confidence in their ability to make meaningful use of their international experiences both for themselves as individuals and for their communities.”

The students include:

TJ Wirtz: A Semester in Ireland 
Wirtz, an senior, studied at University College Cork in Cork, Ireland, during the spring 2026 semester through the University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC). The experience was supported by a Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) Education in Ireland Access Partner Waiver Scholarship.

The opportunity enabled Wirtz the opportunity to continue pursuing academic goals, while gaining firsthand experience living and learning in another country.

“Living and studying in Ireland provided me with a great beacon of hope during a time where the world feels so hostile and sad,” she said. “People will show you kindness if you let them, and I also learned getting out of your comfort zone is the best opportunity for personal growth. Studying in Ireland solidified something a professor once told me: ‘cultures are not good or bad, they just are.’”

Zee Sweeney: Exploring South Korea  
Sweeney, a fifth-year student majoring in with minors in and , traveled to Seoul, South Korea, during the summer to study at Korea University through USAC. Sweeney received a $2,500 Fund for Education Abroad scholarship, the USAC Access Partner Rainbow Scholarship, to help make the experience possible, along with the Benjamin A. Gilman and Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) awards, both nationally competitive study abroad scholarships.

For Sweeney, the summer program offered an opportunity to immerse in a new culture while expanding the educational experience beyond ������Ƶ's campus.

“As someone who had never left their country before, being able to see how other people live and go about their daily lives is incredibly eye-opening, and no matter how much you think you know about a place from what you've learned, experiencing it firsthand is an amazing feeling,” said Sweeney. “I'm especially grateful for the friendships I made through the program. I now have friends in Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, China, South Korea, Italy, Mexico, Canada, and across different states in the United States.”

Meeka Harris: Studying in France  
Harris, a and major in her senior year, also earned a $2,500 Fund for Education Abroad Summer Scholarship. Harris participated in a USAC study abroad program in Lyon, France, during the past summer.

The scholarship supported Harris in pursuing an international academic experience in one of France's major cultural and educational centers, combining university study with the opportunity to experience life abroad.

“What I took away from the experience was the memories and friends I made, and the things that I learned. I made amazing friends that I will have for life, went to places I’ve only seen on TV, learned a new language, international rights, wrote my first case study and lived and experienced life in a different country,” she said. “These things gave me so much more appreciation and I will carry this experience with me for the rest of my life.”

Aaliyah Byrd: Eight Weeks of Intensive Arabic in Morocco  
Byrd, who graduated with a bachelor’s in and a minor in , earned one of the nation's highly competitive Critical Language Scholarships. This summer, Byrd traveled to Meknes, Morocco, for eight weeks of intensive Arabic language study through a fully funded U.S. Department of State fellowship.

The scholarship is a natural extension of Byrd's academic work, particularly her Arabic minor, and provides a culminating international experience during an already successful undergraduate career.

“What I took away from my experience is that there’s nothing like being around people that look like you and speak your target language,” said Byrd. “I made so many friends within my cohort of diverse backgrounds and professional development that helped reinforce my purpose for higher education and community building initiatives.”

The Critical Language Scholarship Program is exceptionally competitive, with approximately 4,500 applications competing for only about 315 spots. Byrd's selection places her among a small group of American students chosen for this prestigious opportunity.

“������Ƶ positions students to compete for nationally competitive study abroad scholarships by combining access, advising, funding and opportunities to build a strong academic and personal profile,” said Good. “We do not simply point students toward outside scholarships; we provide the institutional support and encouragement needed to persevere. More broadly, ������Ƶ creates the conditions for students to imagine an international opportunity, develop a compelling purpose for pursuing it, and then obtain the resources to make it possible. That is particularly meaningful for students who might otherwise view study abroad as financially out of reach.”

Good also stressed that winning a nationally competitive scholarship is both a recognition of what a student has already accomplished and an investment in what that student can accomplish next.  

“������Ƶ's role is to help students see themselves as competitive applicants, connect their academic interests and career aspirations to global experiences, and provide the advising and institutional infrastructure that can turn those ambitions into reality,” she said.

Students interested in learning more about the program can attend the next Education Away Fair from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, in the Student Center Atrium.

Students also can visit the Center for International Services and Programs from 1 to 3 p.m. weekdays in Berkman Hall, Room 412, to learn more about these and other opportunities.