2023 Study Abroad Fellowship Awardees

Raquel Mamea (Criminal Justice, BA 23)

Talofa (Hello), I’m Rocky! I’m from the small but beautiful island of American Samoa, and I just love the celebration of cultures around the world which is why I am participating in the Intensive Spanish in Alicante, Spain 2023 study abroad program. I believe that language is a huge part of people’s culture and to be able to immerse yourself and learn directly from native speakers is an honor! I am excited to learn in a new environment and to gain insight and experiences that would help me grow as an individual.

Montather Almozani (Biomedical Sciences, BS 24)

My name is Montather Almozani and I arrived in the United States in 2010 with my family, hoping for a better future. We left Baghdad, Iraq, and settled in Louisiana. Throughout my life, traveling has been a significant part of my personal growth, and when I discovered this scholarship opportunity, I knew it was perfect for me. Learning about different cultures and diversifying myself is something I truly enjoy, and I am eager to participate in biology research. This scholarship is not only a great opportunity for me, but it could also have a positive impact on my family. Due to my parents' health issues, they have been unable to work, which has resulted in financial difficulties for our family. I am determined to take advantage of this scholarship opportunity to further my education and help support my family. Thank you for considering my application.

Lia Dodita (Law and Policy, BA 24)

My name is Lia Dodita, and I will be attending When in Rome: Intercultural Business Communications as a Law and Policy major. My large family consists of 9 people living in one household. At a young age, my family decided to immigrate from Bălți, Moldova to Tacoma, Washington. As it is unusual in my Slavic culture for women to attend college, I plan to break social norms and show how far my education will carry me. 

Elaiza Ginez (Psychology, BA 24)

Nice to meet you! I am a first-generation psychology student attending South Korea: Global Media and Cross-Cultural Psychology in Fall Quarter 2023. Being a Filipino-American woman, I experience various attitudes and behaviors due to cultural appropriation. Especially with eastern culture influencing western pop culture, the trend is always changing. Which is why I am excited to participate in this program! I want to understand ways the media shape society and the individual’s identity. Growing within this area of psychology will allow me to recognize the process people develop themselves and better support individuals that struggle against cultural expectations.

Emma Anderson (Business Administration, BA 24)

My name is Emma Anderson. I am 21 years old and the daughter of a single mother of two. I love to travel, coffee, dogs and my family. I am not exactly sure what I want to do in the future so this program will help me to explore the possibilities the world has for me.

Andrew Tsang (Politics, Philosophy, and Economics: International Study, BA 25)

Andrew here! I am majoring in PPE: International Study and minoring in Global Engagement. This summer, I hope to partake in the Taiwan Past and Present study abroad program in Taipei. This program stood out to me as it will enable me to go to a country where I could practice and develop my Mandarin, learn more about the culture of my mother’s homeland, compliments my major quite well, and my experience can be used for my minor’s capstone. Traveling abroad is one of those experiences I want to undertake while in college as it can further add to my experience with handling and navigating a new environment. I want to meet new people and collaborate, share experiences, and develop connections. I am hoping to continue gaining more experience and growing as an individual through this opportunity.

Susam Palmer (Politics, Philosophy, and Economics, BA 25)

I never thought I would get the chance to travel abroad because of how expensive it can be. It always seemed like a distant dream until I learned more about the study abroad programs and the scholarships available to students here at UW Tacoma. I ended up choosing the program for South Korea because it will be a chance to visit a country on my bucket list with others rather than all on my own. I look forward to being able to share my experiences with others interested in studying abroad.

Mattley Minor (Biomedical Sciences, BS 2025)

My name is Mattley Minor and I will be attending CFHI- Global Health Experimental Learning Program in Uganda as a Biomedical Sciences major. I moved to Washington when I was 12 years old from my island Saipan and I’m the 2nd youngest out of 8 siblings. I’m also Palauan. I like to do lots of things, but my favorite thing to do is travel. I plan to take as much as I can from this program, immersing with the environment and its people. Lastly, I’m excited about seeing the newly built Maternal and Child Hospital, as well as visiting the HIV/AIDS clinic while shadowing health workers.

Ana Roque (Psychology, BA 24)

I am participating in South Korea: Global Media and Cross-cultural Psychology Program in South Korea. I am an Afro-Latinx student who is majoring in psychology but I plan to specialize in cultural studies. I always was interested in exploring ways in which integrating ourselves into different cultures aids our development seeing as I grew up moving constantly because I was a military child. I think this a perfect opportunity to immerse myself in a new way of living and see how as now an adult I can adjust by myself.

Sandy Nguyen (Communications, BA 25)

I am a First Gen student here at UWT and wanted to take advantage of opportunities that weren't given to those before me. As a Sociology minor, I also want to immerse myself in a brand new environment (socially, culturally, politically, etc.) whilst pursuing higher education. This is why I will be participating in the South Korea: Global Media & Cross-Cultural Psychology program in Autumn 2023. As a Communications major, gaining in-depth and first hand experience in South Korea, a country rich in culture and growing media influences, is a huge opportunity that I am looking forward to exploring. I am confident that this given opportunity will be an experience that will be a major part of my personal and academic career.  

Kayla Rosales (Psychology, BS 24)

My name is Kayla Rosales and I will be participating in the South Korea: Global Media and Cross-Cultural Psychology Study Abroad Program. I was raised in the Philippines for most of my life where I was able to experience first-hand the effects of cultural stigma against seeking help for mental health. As a Filipino American, my personal goal is to promote inclusivity, empathy, and diversity to cultures, especially my own, that are not represented enough in the field of psychology. I believe my experience with South East Asian culture will significantly help me better understand cross-cultural psychology in South Korea and further expand diversity in the field of psychology.

Andrea Aranza Gonzalez (Biomedical Sciences, BS 24)

Andrea is a Junior studying abroad this Summer in Delhi, India. The program they will be participating in is part of Child and Family Health International’s Global Health Experience. They were shocked and immediately overcome with gratitude and joy when they found out they were awarded the OGA Scholarship, making her goal of studying abroad in college a that much closer to becoming a reality. Andrea is a Latina Indigenous student studying biomedical sciences, and is excited to learn more about how healthcare functions around the world to broaden her perspective as a future healthcare practitioner. 

Hawo Issa (Computer Science, BS 24)

Studying abroad always seemed out of reach for me, as it typically requires a significant amount of money, and as a low-income, first-generation student, I thought it would be impossible. However, thanks to the generous support of the Gilman Scholarship and a scholarship from the UW Study Abroad Office, I am now able to fund my dream study abroad trip to a place I have always wanted to visit: Tokyo! I will be participated in the UW Bothell IAS Japan: World War II through Film during the Early Fall term. I am incredibly grateful for these scholarships, which have made it possible for me to pursue my academic and personal goals, and to experience a new culture and way of life.

Andrea Aranza Gonzalez (Biomedical Sciences, BS 24)

Andrea is a Junior studying abroad this Summer in Delhi, India. The program they will be participating in is part of Child and Family Health International’s Global Health Experience. They were shocked and immediately overcome with gratitude and joy when they found out they were awarded the Gilman Scholarship, making her goal of studying abroad in college a that much closer to becoming a reality. Andrea is a Latina Indigenous student studying biomedical sciences, and is excited to learn more about how healthcare functions around the world to broaden her perspective as a future healthcare practitioner. 

Raquel Mamea (Criminal Justice, BA 23)

Talofa (Hello), I’m Rocky! I’m from the small but beautiful island of American Samoa, and I just love the celebration of cultures around the world which is why I am participating in the Intensive Spanish in Alicante, Spain 2023 study abroad program. I believe that language is a huge part of people’s culture and to be able to immerse yourself and learn directly from native speakers is an honor! I am excited to learn in a new environment and to gain insight and experiences that would help me grow as an individual.

Matthew Burgess (Engineering & Technology, BS 23)

I will be participating in Spain: practical approach to mobile app development with UX Design study abroad program this summer. I am a first-generation college student from Germany, and this will be my first time studying abroad. As an aspiring software developer, this program offers an opportunity to learn and collaborate with students from diverse backgrounds, an experience I believe is crucial in our globalized world. Beyond academics, I'm excited to immerse myself in the rich history, architecture, and cuisine of León, Spain.

Laila Markland (Psychology, BA 26)

JSIS Brazil: Art, Music, and Activism in Brazil

My dream as I head into psychology as a field of study is to travel the world and learn about mental health in different cultures. More specifically, I want to explore how art & culture influence and are influenced by our psychological processes and developments. As a queer woman of color who finds music and activism to be tools in healing, my hope as a guest in Brazil is to better understand how identity, art, and activism all tie us together as humans and how they are connected to our beliefs & experiences with mental health.

Rachel Bell (Urban Studies: Community Development and Planning, BA 24)

I am so excited to be able to study abroad through the Urban Design and Planning Tuscany: The Living Landscape program through the UW Seattle campus. As a first-generation college student from a low-income background, and as someone who has not been outside of North America, I never imagined that studying abroad in college was a possibility for me. I am so glad that at UWT we have such an involved study abroad office that encourages people to study abroad and to think outside of what they once thought was possible. If it weren't for the study abroad office here promoting scholarships like the Gilman and telling people like me that studying abroad IS attainable, then I probably would have never considered it. Growing up in Gig Harbor, I barely stepped foot outside of my hometown, and now I am excited to step foot into another country in Europe! I am pumped to learn about sustainable agriculture, the local urban landscape and different forms of urban life, and transfer that knowledge into my studies and future work in my communities here at home.