UIndy students win 'Passport to the World'
Travel study grant program marks inauguration of university president
March 29, 2006
Ten University of Indianapolis students were awarded grants of $4,000 each today to fund educational experiences in Greece, Taiwan, South Africa and Belize.
The "Passport to the World" travel study grant program was established to celebrate this week's inauguration of university President Beverley J. Pitts, who had expressed a desire to put the focus on students.
"This opportunity to provide a transformative experience for 10 promising students is far more important than adding to the pomp and circumstance of an inauguration," Pitts said. "A key part of our mission is to promote intercultural understanding, and our international affiliations give us a means to do that."
Study sites eligible for the program included the university's branch campus in Athens, Greece, and other affiliated locations in Israel, Taiwan, Belize and mainland China. Full-time students in good standing were invited to submit applications, essays and letters of recommendation to a review committee that selected the 10 winners. The students' trips will take place between May 1, 2006, and August 31, 2007.
The grant recipients, who were honored today at a luncheon with the president and later at Dr. Pitts' investiture ceremony, are:
Ross Atteberry of Westfield (46074)
Freshman in History & Political Science
Location: GreeceAndrea Buchler of Fort Wayne (46815)
Junior in Spanish education
Location: BelizeHilary Conklin of Rushville (46173)
Senior in Psychology
Location: TaiwanJames "Ryan" Davis of Indianapolis (46219)
Sophomore in International Relations
Location: GreeceHilary Foltz of Dyer (46311)
Sophomore in Elementary Education
Location: South AfricaTodd Harrington of Anderson (46012)
Senior in Liberal Studies (School for Adult Learning)
Location: South AfricaPhyllinga Jackson of Rochester (46975)
Sophomore in Elementary Education
Location: GreeceKelli Norton of Indianapolis (46224)
Junior in Organizational Leadership (School for Adult Learning)
Location: GreeceMolly Schiel of Indianapolis (46227)
Master's degree candidate in Human Biology
Location: South AfricaMboone Umbima of Indianapolis (46227)
Senior in Communication
Location: South Africa