Scholarships

As an Afghan American Muslim, studying abroad in Jordan was one of the closest opportunities I could have to visiting and living in a country with a culture similar to my own. The conflict Afghanistan has faced has produced innumerable problems for Afghans around the world, only one of which includes a sense of distance and disconnect for the diaspora communities. Being able to live in a Muslim majority country immersed in Arab culture that so closely parallels Afghan culture, allowed me to reconnect and learn more about my own identities. I formed a close community of people that I look forward to visiting again and again.

Rachel Adamek spent the summer studying Korean in Busan, South Korea as an awardee of the 2019 U.S. Department of State’s Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program.  Rachel was one of only 550 competitively selected American students representing 233 colleges and universities across the United States to receive a CLS award. The CLS Program is part of a U.S. government effort to expand the number of Americans studying and mastering critical foreign languages. CLS scholars gain critical language and cultural skills in languages that are less commonly taught in U.S. schools, but are essential for America’s engagement with the world, contributing to U.S. economic competitiveness and national security.

Shayan was awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to teach English to students in Mexico. This fellowship will benefit her future goals as she plans to go to law school and work with immigrants. This English Teaching Assistantship will enhance her intercultural cooperation skills and familiarize her with how to be responsive to the language barriers that immigrants may face. Shayan graduated with double majors in International Studies and Spanish.

The Gilman Scholarship was incredibly helpful in allowing me to study abroad in the Middle East, which was the area I focused on while completing my International Studies undergrad degree. I was able to spend time in Amman, Jordan to strengthen my Arabic language skills. My time there improved my Arabic and allowed me to see Middle East-US Relations from a different perspective than is usually taught.

My International Studies undergraduate degree provided me with the ability to approach complex problems and issues in a thoughtful, compassionate way. It helped me understand and incorporate diverse ideas into my decision-making and ignited my passion for working to support immigrants and refugees, which lead me to my current career in nonprofits. My final paper on US Aid in Jordan lead to me traveling back to Jordan in 2017 to work with various organizations supporting Syrian refugees.

This internship opened my eyes to the vast world of career opportunities in D.C. (and abroad!) in the U.S. government. Interning for the Department of State in Panama helped me realize that I can have a career that allows me to practice Spanish, travel, and also work towards U.S. foreign policy goals.

I am grateful that my International Studies advisors supported me in pursuing this opportunity and subsequently assisted me in my applications for graduate school. I am now in D.C. pursuing a master’s degree in security studies with a focus on International Security, and wouldn’t be here without the mentorship of the International Studies program.

I taught English at an Islamic high school (grade 10-12) and the excitement to learn during each class is what motivated me to keep thinking of hands on and engaging activities to practice English. My main goal was to portray a more accurate vision of America to my students who really understood the United States through the lens of movies and social media platforms. Being part of the International Studies program showed me options I could pursue after graduating. Having the exposure to Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) coming and talking about their experiences in our classes inspired me to apply.  Learning about different cultures and countries outside your own, is what I found most valuable and what I think allows my students, who will probably never get the chance to travel, to have a more open mind--it builds a more well-rounded student and human.

The Clapp Humanitarian Scholarship has been an excellent opportunity for me to connect with like-minded students at Seattle University and discuss humanitarian crises and issues that are particularly resonant with us. In a world where international conflict is common and human rights abuses still occur daily, it is encouraging to be surrounded by other young people so full of hope who are eager to brainstorm and problem-solve.

“Being a Naef Scholar is an incredible honor! The program is a valuable experience in community building as it connects me with a wonderful and sincere group of students. I am privileged to be able to come to know such passionate people and merge our skills and initiatives to help one another in our various endeavors for social justice.”