When our scholarship recipients return from their summer programs across the country and around the world, they share their experiences with us through essays and photo/video presentations. Our committees then come together to select our favorite submissions, award prizes to the winners, and share them with you!
Our favorite photos for 2025
1st Prize - Javier found a peaceful spot during his program in Japan
2nd Prize: Ajani felt triumphant during his time in Greece.
3rd Prize: Whitney captured a shimmering street in China.
Our Favorite videos
See our favorite student video submissions for 2025 from Sophie, Isabella, and Justin.
Our Favorite essays
Here are excerpts from our three favorite essays in 2025:
Raegan:
Snap. Snap. Click. Click. What I heard at least twice a day during my month in China as a 5 '8, 17 year-old Black girl. The sounds of cameras flashing, the looks of confused astonishment, and the locals’ strong urge to grab strands of my hair whenever in close proximity.
Before my study abroad program, I had heard of instances like these because it was so rare to see someone of my background in a place like China, speaking the language and getting by just fine, where few had only seen pictures online. In fact, I was WARNED to be polite, but cautious of all interactions, due to possible dangerous situations, as most young women would be before traveling to another country. But I wasn’t exactly expecting to be treated as a foreigner since I had such a large exposure of the language and culture, prior to my trip. I had been learning Mandarin since first grade, going on field trips to Chinatown with my class, making dumplings, and using chopsticks early on. We would even celebrate the major holidays and traditions that made up Chinese history. Chinese culture was nothing new to me, which is why I was shocked to see how many jaws dropped during my time there.
Justin:
The sizzling of the pork on the grill blended with laughter in the kitchen as I tried to flip a tortilla without tearing it. That night, standing side by side with my exchange family, I realised we weren’t just cooking together, I was learning how food transformed us from strangers to family. The days crept closer to meeting my exchange family, and my excitement was entangled with nerves. Would I fit in, or would I just be an awkward guest at their dinner table? At first, things moved slowly as we got to know each other. There was Francesca, the warm and welcoming mother; Luka, the father with a quiet smile; and Gemma and Giovanni, my lively siblings.
As we grew closer, my host family asked about my heritage. I happily shared my favorite things from home, mentioning how much I missed Mexican food. Although I was enjoying the pasta and pizza in Italy, nothing compares to some homemade tacos. My family then offered to help if I wanted to cook something from home. So, I decided to share my favorite with them: tacos al pastor. They were thrilled and excitedly made the guest list. I thought it would be a small dinner, but when they mentioned inviting more people, I agreed. It’s not like I would have to cook for 15 people, right? I had to cook for 15 people. With Gemma, I made a long list of ingredients and set off to the city of Triste.
Giselle:
When I think back on my trip, one of the most memorable and meaningful moments came while I was in the village. We were invited to the home of a woman who was teaching us how to make bread. She greeted us warmly, and even though we spoke different languages, our in-country partner, Mohammed, helped us communicate by translating.
She told us about her life, and I was honestly shocked by how much she had been through. She explained that her mother had twelve children, but only five survived, including her. She shared that she had gone through a divorce, and when her ex-husband wanted to get back together, she chose not to, because she wanted to stay focused on caring for her older siblings.
As she gave us a tour of her home, I couldn’t help but notice that she didn’t have much in terms of material possessions. Yet she wasn’t ashamed of her living situation, instead, she welcomed us with kindness. She made us tea, and spoke about her daily life of making bread and taking care of her siblings. She told us that she was happy with her life and had no regrets, even though it was clear that the journey she’s been on hasn’t been easy. The thing that amazed me the most though, was her outlook. She had gone through loss, hardships, and challenges that I can’t imagine, but she still found reasons to be grateful. She didn’t see her life as lacking, instead, she saw it as full of love, responsibility, and purpose. Since coming home, I’ve thought about her often. She taught me that it's possible to have peace and joy in the simple things.
Thank you for supporting life-changing experiences for our students. We hope their essays, photos, and videos help you share in their journeys.