Overview

With support from the Stanley-UI Foundation Support Organization, the Global Access Ambassador Scholarship program provides awards to study abroad for a summer, winter, semester, or academic year program. The scholarships are intended to support students who study abroad with the intent to serve as Global Access Ambassadors upon return to the UI campus.

As a Global Access Ambassador, you will be asked to submit a photo and an open letter to prospective students or suggest an alternate means of sharing with prospective students upon return. By writing insightful letters and sharing pictures about your new surroundings, cross-cultural observations and personal growth, your words can inspire other students to go abroad and challenge them to rethink how study abroad experiences can be for everyone. You will also be invited to share your experiences abroad with prospective students on campus through outreach events.

Global Access Ambassador awards are intended to facilitate reflection on identity as it is shaped by culture, challenges overcome, or lessons learned. As a Global Access Ambassador, you are encouraged to think about key aspects of your personal identity that are important to you and how those aspects of self are perceived or experienced differently in a new cultural context abroad.

Up to ten (10) - $1,000 Global Access Ambassador Scholarships for Study Abroad programs will be awarded for each of the spring, fall semesters, academic year, summer, winter sessions. This scholarship is not renewable.

Eligibility Requirements

  • undergraduate, full-time, degree-seeking UI student in good academic and disciplinary standing
  • plan to participate in an approved study abroad program during the academic semester/summer or winter session

Additional Considerations

  • Students with a history of overcoming adversity pursuing personal, academic, or professional goals

Applicants may apply for need and/or other financial awards concurrently; review other award categories on our web page to determine your eligibility for other opportunities.

Global Access Ambassador Scholarship recipients are not eligible to receive the scholarship in subsequent sessions to allow the greatest number of students to receive this award.

Application Procedure

To apply for a Global Access Ambassador Scholarship, complete the application below for review by the Study Abroad scholarship committee.

Global Access Ambassador Application

Submission Deadline

Winter 2024: Friday, September 20

Spring 2025: Tuesday, October 8

For more information about UI's efforts to create a welcoming climate for students from communities underrepresented in higher education, visit the Diversity at Iowa website.

About the Stanley-UI Foundation Support Organization

Max and Betty Stanley

C. Maxwell (Max) and Elizabeth (Betty) M. Stanley were exemplary visionary leaders in philanthropic and educational endeavors. They strove to promote public understanding, constructive dialogue, and cooperative action on critical international issues and worked to recognize the essential roles of both the policy community and the broader public in building sustainable peace.

Alumni of The University of Iowa and longtime active volunteers and generous supporters of the institution, the Stanley's created The Stanley-University of Iowa Foundation Support Organization in 1979, which provides funding for projects across The University of Iowa.

Meet some of our Global Access Ambassadors

Elizabeth Von Loh in Ireland with Iowa Flag

Writing in Ireland: Finding inspiration in the living

Wednesday, September 25, 2024
Studying abroad is more than just hitting academic goals—it's about living the experience. In this personal reflection, Elizabeth Von Loh shares how everyday moments during a study abroad program in Ireland became rich story material, from walking the streets of Dublin at dawn to witnessing local traditions.
Zayla Loftsgard profile photo

Why you should study abroad: a first-generation student's life-changing semester in Barcelona

Thursday, September 19, 2024
"As a first-generation student, studying abroad made me realize the importance of global experiences and my education."
Melanie Flores laying on the ground with a bicycle next to her

Speech and hearing science student reflects on summer internship in Chile

Thursday, September 19, 2024
"My advice is to ask as many questions as possible to all of the resources that you have available and go for it. I applied for every scholarship I could and once that was figured out, I went with an open mind that change is good, and I needed to give it a chance."
Sara Alvidrez standing in front of a building

Italian life – humbling and educating the average Midwesterner

Wednesday, September 18, 2024
"There is no doubt in my mind I have grown tremendously as an individual over this past semester. No matter how hard I try, words cannot illustrate the importance."
Corey Breiten teaching students math

Discovering Africa: How studying abroad in Ghana transformed my life

Monday, September 16, 2024
"Studying abroad allowed me to experience my identity in a new and exciting way. As a Black African American man who has grown up in predominantly white towns, I was intrigued to see what it would be like where the majority is African."
Sofia Manzano standing in front of a square

Standing on even ground: How I became more confident in myself and my future through study abroad

Monday, September 16, 2024
"Reflecting on my time in Valladolid, I can confidently say that I have changed significantly as a person. The experiences I had during these six weeks will forever stay with me as I begin my last year of undergrad."