ASU Global Education Office pledges $1M in scholarships for students to study abroad

Like many students who are the first in their families to attend college, computer science undergrad Kaytlyn Daffern knows how challenging it can be to navigate.

“There have been many moments in my journey so far where, because I am a first-generation college student, I wasn’t able to ask for guidance from my parents,” Daffern said.

One of those moments was when considering whether or not to pursue study abroad.

“I’ve always thought that a study abroad would be out of reach for me,” Daffern said.

But thanks to the Planning Scholarship she received from Arizona State University’s Global Education Office, Daffern is looking forward to having an international academic experience, an opportunity she says has the potential to “improve (her) confidence tremendously.”

The Planning Scholarship is an award for first-generation college students to use at any point in the next five semesters following the spring semester of their sophomore year. This unique scholarship gives students the time, and the advantage of guidance from the Global Education Office, to plan their study abroad experience in advance. 

“I will be pushing myself into a space where I might feel uncomfortable and (it will) give me a chance to grow by seeing that I am capable of overcoming challenges,” Daffern said.

In order to expand such an opportunity to more students, the Global Education Office has pledged to award over $1 million in scholarships to students for global education programs for the 2023–24 academic year. This record amount of scholarship funding will help students expand their learning beyond ASU and into the world.

Aligning with the ASU Charter pillars of accessibility and inclusion, the scholarships lower the financial barrier — one of the most-cited obstacles for students — to studying abroad, allowing students of all backgrounds to participate and expand ASU’s global reach.

Kennedy Palaschuk, another Global Education Office scholarship recipient, emigrated to the U.S. when she was 12, receiving her citizenship documentation right before starting classes at ASU.

“Every day that I am at ASU, I am reminded how lucky I am that my family was able to save enough money to get my papers in on time for me to go to college. This experience has shaped me into someone who is responsible and has allowed me to see the true value of education,” Palaschuk said. “Most of my family (had) never graduated high school, let alone gone on to college, and so I take my academic career seriously, as well as my goals for my global education program.”

Palaschuk was able to study abroad in London using the GEO Diversity Scholarship.

“I want to be a part of this experience because I know that it will unlock so many new opportunities for me, which is such a blessing when you seem to have everything working against you,” she said.

Students interested in applying for a Global Education Office scholarship can find a full listing of award offerings here.