NEW YORK, June 15, 2015—The Institute of International Education has presented IIE Passport Awards for Study Abroad to thirteen students who attend high schools in Chicago, Houston, New York, San Francisco, and Washington DC. The Institute established these planning scholarships in 2014 to create pathways to study abroad for high school juniors so that they can acquire global skills and expand personal and professional opportunities as part of their college education.
Recipients of the IIE Passport Awards for Study Abroad will be provided with resources on study abroad from IIE and will be paired with a study abroad alumni mentor. In addition, each student will receive a $1,000 scholarship to be used towards the costs of studying abroad once they are enrolled successfully in college and have an approved study abroad plan.
With lead gifts from IIE Chairman Thomas S. Johnson and IIE Treasurer Mark A. Angelson, IIE created the IIE Passport Awards in the belief that we need to build a pipeline of students who plan to study abroad when they get to college in order to make “international” be part of every student’s experience. Research shows that students who study abroad have better grades and more confidence, and are more likely to graduate from college at higher rates than students who do not study abroad.
The students and schools that were selected for the second annual of IIE Passport Awards for Study Abroad are: Chicago: Jailenne Crespo, Roberto Clemente Community Academy; Leslie Zuniga, Eric Solorio Academy High School; Houston: Luz De Leon, Jefferson Davis High School; Karen Ortiz, Sharpstown International School; New York City: Ashley Armesto, Bronx Leadership Academy II High School; Jason Cruz, City College Academy of the Arts; Samantha Torres, Academy of American Studies; San Francisco: Lourdes Morando, June Jordan School for Equity; Washington, DC: Diamond Green, McKinley Technology High School; Asia Jones, Benjamin Banneker Academic High School; Nadiyah Minor, Theodore Roosevelt Senior High School; Jhadzia Murphy, Cardozo Education Campus; Monet Warren, Anacostia High School;
The students will be paired with study abroad mentors who are alumni of the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, a program of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs, who have returned from an education abroad experience and are now in graduate school or working in their chosen professional field. The Gilman Program seeks to increase American global competitiveness and engagement by diversifying the destinations and populations of American students who study and intern abroad. The program provides need-based scholarships to U.S. undergraduates who have been traditionally underrepresented in education abroad, including financially disadvantaged students, ethnic minorities, and students with disabilities.
International experience is one of the most important components of a 21st century education,” said IIE president Allan Goodman. “Globalization is changing the way the world works, and employers are increasingly looking for workers who have international skills and experience. Through the IIE Passport Awards, IIE aims to open doors to study abroad to outstanding students who may not have been planning to study abroad, and to make high school teachers and students aware of the opportunities.”
Select schools and partner organizations from Chicago, Houston, New York, San Francisco and Washington DC, all cities where IIE has offices, were invited to nominate students for this award. Schools were encouraged to nominate students who had little or no previous international travel for educational purposes; eligible students included high school juniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Participating schools were chosen by educational leaders in the community and members of the Institute of International Education’s Board of Trustees, based on school performance, diversity, and socio-economic profile. The list of schools will be reviewed annually and the Institute hopes to expand participation in future years to other cities.
Each IIE Passport Award winner’s school will receive a copy of IIE’s new books, A Student Guide to Study Abroad and A Parent Guide to Study Abroad, a subscription to IIE’s “Global Resources for Teachers” newsletter and an invitation to become an associate member of the IIE Network.
According to a Council on Foreign Relations Task Force report on U.S. Education Reform and National Security, “It is critical that children in the United States be prepared for futures in the globalized world. They must master essential reading, writing, math and science skills, acquire foreign languages, learn about the world, and—importantly—understand America’s core institutions and values in order to be engaged in the community and international system
About Generation Study AbroadTM
Generation Study Abroad is a five-year initiative of the Institute of International Education to double the number of U.S. college students studying abroad by the end of the decade. IIE is taking action to enable more U.S. students, especially those that are typically underrepresented in U.S. study abroad, to participate in an academic, internship, or service-learning experience abroad.
IIE has built the Generation Study Abroad coalition to raise awareness of the need for students to gain language and cultural skills, identify and break down barriers, share innovative strategies, and mobilize additional financial resources. In the first year, nearly 500 partners from academia, and the public and private sectors from the U.S. and abroad joined IIE’s Generation Study Abroad initiative. These partners have pledged specific, actionable goals and tangible financial commitments that will contribute significantly to reach our ambitious goal. The teacher campaign is the next phase, recognizing the key role that teachers play in bringing the world into their classrooms and inspiring their students.About the Institute of International Education
The Institute of International Education is a world leader in the international exchange of people and ideas. IIE designs and implements programs of study and training for students, educators, young professionals and trainees from all sectors with funding from government agencies, foundations, and corporations. An independent, not-for-profit organization founded in 1919, IIE has a network of 19 offices and affiliates worldwide and over 1,400 member institutions.
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