College Offer $65300 for Study Abroad scholarships

SUNY Cortland recently awarded a total of $65,300 in scholarships and exchange awards to help 34 of its students expand their educational horizons through study in China, Germany, Australia or other countries.The College will provide $20,300 in scholarships so 24 students can study abroad during the 2012 winter session or spring semester.

Additionally SUNY Cortland, through its many exchange agreements with international universities, presented 10 SUNY Cortland students with a total of almost $45,000 in tuition waivers at host institutions to help pay for international study during the Spring of 2012. These awards will save the students an average of roughly $4,500 apiece in tuition during their transformative, study-abroad experiences.

The 34 students will study in Australia, Austria,Belize, China, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Ghana, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Morocco, Spain or the United Kingdom.Seven different scholarships, ranging from $400 to $3,000, were awarded. They are managed along with the exchange awards through the College’s International Programs Office.We believe every SUNY Cortland student should have access to the transformational intercultural experience an education abroad can provide, said Mary Schlarb, director of international programs.

The International Programs Office recently replaced the James M. Clark Center for International Education as the College’s manager of study abroad programs and provider of related support services.Students can choose from more than 600 SUNY exchange, faculty-led and internship programs abroad, each offering an opportunity to enhance their academic learning, broaden their perspectives and develop confidence and skills that will serve them in their personal and professional lives,” she said. “These study abroad scholarships help put these opportunities within the reach of every deserving student.”Recipients for the scholarships and exchange awards were selected based on criteria that included high academic achievement, financial need, involvement in extracurricular activities, a personal essay and letters of recommendation.