April 25, 2019

Honors students awarded scholarships to study abroad

By Grace Niemeyer, communication assistant

Infiniti Anderson studied in South Korea last fall and wore a traditional Korean Hanbok while visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace. (Submitted photo)

Makayla Hasch visited Duomo, the fourth largest cathedral in the world, during a faculty-led study abroad experience in Italy. (Submitted photo)

Four Northwest Missouri State University students are recipients of a new $500 scholarship to study abroad during the 2018-19 academic year.

The Northwest Honors Program awarded Infiniti Anderson, a junior biology major from Chicago; Natalie Cote, a junior emergency and disaster management major from Lawrence, Kansas; Rebeka Bowen, a freshman instrumental music education major from Excelsior Springs, Missouri; and Makayla Hasch, a sophomore elementary education major from Omaha, Nebraska.

“Study abroad is important in so many ways,” Dr. Elyssa Ford, the director of the Honors Program and an associate professor of history, said. “It helps open your eyes to new cultures and helps you better understand your own culture and country. We especially encourage Honors students at Northwest to study abroad and to engage in these new experiences, and I hope that these awards will help encourage more honors students to pursue this opportunity while they are in college.”

Honors students may apply for the scholarship prior to or after their experience. The scholarships are awarded once during the academic year and can be used for any part of the study abroad experience.

Anderson, who studied in South Korea last fall, applied for the scholarship after she returned. Upon graduating next spring, Anderson plans to attend graduate school in South Korea to study Korean language and linguistics. She hopes to connect her science background to learning more about the skin care industry.

“I love learning, especially new languages and new cultures,” Anderson said. “Studying abroad was the perfect way to not only learn more about a culture other than my own, but to also give me something to look forward to after graduation.”

Hasch embarked on a faculty-led trip to Italy during spring break and learned about new approaches to early childhood education.

“It was such an inspiring experience to see how children are at the center of everything this culture does,” Hasch said.

Cote and Bowen will study abroad this summer on faculty-led trips. Cote will travel to Central Europe, which will include visits to Germany, the Czech Republic and Austria.

“In my graduate school research, I came across a few programs in Germany and the Czech Republic that I may want to apply for and pursue,” Cote said. “Taking in all the sights and learning so much information within a short amount of time may be overwhelming at first but will undoubtedly prove to be an incredible, meaningful adventure.”

Bowen will study in London, England, and earn course credit for music appreciation and music literature along with honors credit.

“I am very thankful that our school offers this trip to music students who otherwise wouldn’t get this opportunity,” Bowen said. “The itinerary is filled with an incredible amount of exciting things to accomplish while we are abroad and I cannot wait.”

For more information about study abroad experiences offered by Northwest, visit www.nwmissouri.edu/international/studyabroad/.