USAC is honored to partner with like-minded organizations to make study abroad accessible to students of all backgrounds. That’s why we’re excited to team up with Reno, Nev.’s Renown Health to support USAC students in their pursuit of international education. This semester/yearlong scholarship, funded by Renown Health, provides funding to students who are considered underrepresented in study abroad and who are pursuing either a health-related or STEM major.
This year, we awarded our very first Renown Health Diversity & Inclusion Study Abroad Scholarship to Thaddaeus Lam, a computer science major and math minor studying at the University of Nevada, Reno. Thaddaeus will be studying at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea in Fall 2021. We spoke with Thaddaeus about this scholarship and what accessible study abroad means to him.
Why is this scholarship important to you? How will it impact your study abroad experience?
The Renown Health Diversity & Inclusion Study Abroad Scholarship is important to me because having the honor of receiving it acknowledges my determination to explore new horizons while also refining my identity. In addition, having some of the financial burdens be lifted is such a breath of relief. It allows me to focus on the important things of the study abroad experience.
Furthermore, my goal to learn social, professional, and cybersecurity skills during my study abroad is within reach. My interests to make new friends, experience a new culture, and ability to take back home important lessons are just around the corner. All of these things and more are at my doorstep because of this scholarship. I am grateful that this opportunity was given to me and I plan to make the most out of it.
What does “Diversity and Inclusion” mean to you and why is it important in international education?
Diversity and Inclusion mean creating an environment where everyone can thrive and not turning away ideas or anyone. Furthermore, it is critical to accept others and what they believe in even though it may not align with your thinking. This definitely is one of the hardest things to achieve and maintain, but I believe it is one of the most important things to have in order to function in a community. It allows us to interact and build strong relationships with one another.
This is also why it is important for international education, so we may teach future generations to not treat each other as foreigners but as fellow humans. With the guidelines of Diversity and Inclusion, we can not only respect each other and our own cultures but also provide ample opportunity to grow together. After all, we are on this earth together, especially since a certain virus is kicking our butts.
To learn more about the scholarships and discounts available through USAC and our partners, visit our website.
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