GlobaLinks NewsWire » philanthropy

Supporting Clean Energy: Alumni Evaluations Generate $250 Donation for Colorado Carbon Fund

Stacey — Tue, 01 May 2012 20:58:53 +0000

Colorado Carbon Fund

Students who were willing to take the time to fill out an evaluation on their fall 2011 GlobaLinks Learning Abroad programs have helped generate a $250 donation by GlobaLinks Learning Abroad to the Colorado Carbon Fund. The money was raised from GlobaLinks Learning Abroad’s commitment to donate $1 for each evaluation completed by students who participated in its fall 2011 study abroad programs.

GlobaLinks Learning Abroad has supported the Colorado Carbon Fund since 2006 to encourage students to offset emissions from air travel, as well as build on several existing green initiatives for students studying abroad. The company makes a regular contribution to the Colorado Carbon Fund for each student evaluation form it receives. The company chose to support the Colorado Carbon Fund because it supports clean energy projects developed in Colorado. Portland, Ore.-based Climate Trust, one of the country’s most experienced offset project developers, is a third-party organization helping to select and manage Colorado’s offset projects, which include methane capture at farms or solar water heating for recreation centers.

Foundation for Global Scholars Awards Scholarships to 22 GlobaLinks Learning Abroad Participants

admin — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 15:25:19 +0000

The Foundation for Global Scholars has awarded scholarships to 22 GlobaLinks Learning Abroad students participating in international education programs across the globe.

Among those student is Jody Wendt, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln student who received the Banks Family Scholarship from the the Foundation for Global Scholars. The $1,000 scholarship, personally donated by the family of Cynthia Banks, founder, executive director and president of GlobaLinks Learning Abroad, is awarded annually to support future leaders, and in particular, students in business and entrepreneurship.

“I am absolutely loving my time here in Manly at the International College of Management – Sydney,” Wendt said. “I couldn’t have imagined a better place to go for 3-4 months. The people here are so supportive and really want to add to your overall experiences. Not only have I become close with the American bunch, but I’ve also really gotten to know some Norwegians, Germans, and even Australians. It will definitely be super hard to leave this place and these people. I guess a visit in the future will probably have to happen.”

The GlobaLinks Learning Abroad participants who received scholarships from the Foundation for Global Scholars are:

Emily Wechter, a student from Illinois Wesleyan University, received $500 to attend Mahidol University in Thailand for an academic semester.

Taylor Johnson, a Lewis-Clark State College student, received $1,000 to attend Sichuan University in China for an academic semester.

Arielle Boulette, a University of Maine student, received $1,000 to attend a custom internship in Australia.

Robert Brown, a University of Maine student, received $1,000 to attend James Cook University in Australia for an academic semester.

Lindsay Stevens, a University of Maine student, received $1,000 to attend a custom internship in Australia.

Ashley Heim, a University of New Hampshire student, received $1,000 to attend the University of Queensland in Australia for an academic semester.

Haley Filhart, a Central Michigan University student, received $1,000 to attend a custom internship in Australia.

Ann Sekerak, a Towson University student, received $1,000 to attend James Cook University – Townsville in Australia for an academic semester.

Tara Medrano, a California Lutheran University, received $1,500 to attend AUT University in Australia for an academic semester.

Rachel Head, a University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, received $1,000 to attend Murdoch University in Australia for an academic semester.

Cody Olson, a Colorado State University student, received $500 to attend James Cook University – Townsville in Australia for an academic semester.

Gabrielle Biskaduros, a University of South Carolina student, received $1,000 to attend Murdoch University in Australia for an academic semester.

Jeremy Primus, a University of Minnesota Duluth student, received $1,000 to attend the University of Newcastle in Australia for an academic semester.

Jade Marszalek, a University of Massachusetts Amherst, received $1,000 to attend Griffith University – Gold Coast for an academic semester.

Hannah Preble, a University of Minnesota student, received $1,000 to attend Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand for an academic semester.

Beau Miller, a University of Minnesota student, received $1,000 to attend the University of Melbourne in Australia for an academic semester.

Max Tucker, a University of Maryland, Baltimore student, received $1,000 to attend the University of Otago in New Zealand for an academic semester.

Emily Neldon, a University of Tulsa student, received $500 to attend American College of Thessaloniki in Greece for an academic semester.

Olivia Michalak, a Rider University student, received $1,500 to attend Queen Mary University of London in England for an academic semester.

Katie Mount, a Richard Stockton College of New Jersey student, received $1,500 to attend Lancaster University in England for an academic semester.

Evan Campbell, a University of South Carolina student, received $1,000 to attend American College of Thessaloniki in Greece for an academic semester.

Jody Wendt, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln student, received the $1,000 Banks Family Scholarship to attend International College of Management – Sydney for an academic semester.

Students Receive Study Abroad Scholarships For Short Courses

Stacey — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 15:35:37 +0000

Scholarships are assisting numerous GlobaLinks Learning Abroad participants this summer with their short-term study abroad programs in Australia and New Zealand.

Recipients:

Kristin Larios of the University of Kansas is taking the Tropical Marine Ecology course and received $1,000 from the Foundation for Global Scholars.

Stephen McClanahan of Auburn University is taking the Creating A Green, Sustainable Environment course and received $1,000 from the Foundation for Global Scholars.

Mahdyeh Nowkhandan of Metropolitan State College of Denver is taking the Challenge New Zealand – Leadership Development course and received $1,000 from the Foundation for Global Scholars.

Sabrina Orser of Grand Valley State University is attending Summer School in Australia at the University of Adelaide and received $1,500 from the Foundation for Global Scholars.

Lauren Presutti of Central Michigan University is taking the Wanju Boodjah – Aboriginal Studies in Western Australia course and received $1,500 from the Foundation for Global Scholars, and $500 (AUD) from the Murdoch University Wanju Boodjah Sponsored Scholarship.

Amanda Stewart of the University of North Florida is taking The Australian Experience: Environmental Issues course and received $500 from the Foundation for Global Scholars.

Sara Tullis of Kansas State University is taking The Australian Sporting Industry course and received $500 from the Foundation for Global Scholars.

Ashley Shumar of Indiana University of Pennsylvania is taking the International Business: The Asia-Pacific Connection course and received $1,000 from the Edith Cowan University (ECU) International Business Sponsored Scholarship.

Kireeti Ghanta of the University of Southern Indiana is taking the International Business: The Asia-Pacific Connection course and
received $1,000 from the ECU International Business Sponsored Scholarship.

Sarah Virnig of the University of North Dakota is taking the Coral Bay – Marine Science On Australia’s West Coast course and received $500 from the Murdoch University Coral Bay Sponsored Scholarship.

Dollars Raised By Newlyweds For Study Abroad Scholarship Matched By Their Overseas University

Stacey — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:37:48 +0000

Good deeds do get noticed.

Summer Egan and Alex Sachen

When Summer Egan and Alex Sachen, alumni of the AustraLearn study abroad program, got married last year on Oct. 17, they donated $1 per guest, in lieu of wedding favors, and had funds matched by Sachen’s employer. They also invited guests to contribute more if they were interested in supporting their scholarship to help another student study abroad at their overseas university, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), where they met in 2004.

As a result, $400 was raised and a scholarship was created through the Foundation for Global Scholars to help a student who might otherwise not be able to study abroad.

Alex and Summer’s act of generosity on their special day, however, didn’t end there. It recently caught the attention of QUT officials, who decided to match the scholarship with their own $400, making for an $800 scholarship.

Summer Egan and Alex Sachen, alumni of Queensland University of Technology and the AustraLearn program, married last October and created a $400 scholarship to help another student study abroad. Now, QUT has matched their scholarship for a total of $800, which was awarded to Molly Dupuis of Carthage College.

“I was just so happy to hear that our study abroad school not only knew of our idea, but was inspired to support it,” said Summer Egan Sachen, who learned about the match earlier this month.

The recipient of the couple’s scholarship is Molly Dupuis, a graphic design and public relations major from Carthage College.

“Our small donation of $400 is now doubled and I am happy to know that we could really help this student cover a majority of her flight, meals, or books out there,” Sachen said.

Sachen said she is really happy with the recipient of their scholarship.

“She really was the ideal candidate. … She is an extremely sweet girl who is highly motivated. She views the world as a classroom and wants to grow not only as a student at QUT but as an independent woman. She seems like she will soak in all that the experience will offer her. She mentioned that she will be participating in the volunteer program, which I also did. I’m happy to know we are helping someone who in return will be giving back to the city both my husband and I consider a home away from home. I’ve already befriended her on Facebook and I plan on keeping in touch with her on her journey down under.”

New Study Abroad Scholarship For Business Majors With Entrepreneurial Interests

admin — Wed, 11 May 2011 18:07:11 +0000

Banks Family Scholarship Now Available Through Foundation for Global Scholars

Cynthia Banks, founder and executive director of GlobaLinks Learning Abroad, and her family, recently created the Banks Family Scholarship, an annual scholarship awarded in increments of $1,000 through the Foundation for Global Scholars to support education abroad for future leaders, and in particular, students in business and entrepreneurship.

Banks was a business student and an entrepreneur when she founded the GlobaLinks Learning Abroad organization in 1990. “Our family wishes to support students in their international endeavors so that they also have similar opportunities to explore their interests and career passions,” Banks said.

Applicants must first meet these “general eligibility” requirements:

At the time of applying for any of the Foundation scholarships, applicant must be enrolled in a North American college or university where transfer credit from an academic program abroad will be applied to your degree being earned.
Must be a U.S. or Canadian citizen

Applicants then must meet all of the following eligibility requirements and answer one additional essay question on the scholarship application:

Minimum 3.0 GPA
Business Major
GlobaLinks Learning Abroad Students
Interest in entrepreneurship
Attending a Semester Abroad program only

In addition, recipients of this award will be required to prepare a brief presentation (10 minutes) and give it to a class describing their study abroad experience, how it helped further their interest in entrepreneurship and encourage others to have study abroad experience. A video (simple camera or flipcam video is fine) of the presentation will need to be presented to the Foundation for Global Scholars.

For more information on the Banks Family Scholarship and other opportunities, visit the Foundation for Global Scholars’ web site.

Saying “I Do” To International Education

Stacey — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 03:24:10 +0000

Two AustraLearn Alumni Create Study Abroad Scholarship in Lieu of Favors for Their Wedding Guests

By Stacey Hartmann

GlobaLinks NewsWire Editor

As guests at the Oct. 17 wedding of Alex Sachen and Summer Egan sit down to enjoy a celebratory dinner, they’ll discover a scholarship created in their honor rather than typical wedding favors.

It is a gesture that will speak volumes about the happy couple at the head table.

As part of their Oct. 17, 2010, Summer Egan and Alex Sachen will create a scholarship to help another individual study abroad in Australia, as they did.

“We thought of this together,” says Egan, who met Sachen in 2004 while they were both studying abroad at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Brisbane, Australia, through the AustraLearn international education program. “It’s a way for us to give a practical gift for our guests.”

By donating $1 per guest and having funds matched by Sachen’s employer, the couple expects to raise at least $500 to fund a one-time scholarship to study abroad. Guests will be invited to contribute more if they are interested in supporting the endeavor.

“I went to a wedding a few years back and my friend decided to donate a few dollars from each person’s plate to her favorite charity,” says Egan, who plans to say a few words to her guests about why she and her husband created the scholarship. “Favors can be so tacky and impractical. Alex and I thought, ‘Let’s do something more meaningful.’”

So they came up with the “Let Learning Take You Around the World” scholarship, available through the Foundation for Asia Pacific Education to participants of the AustraLearn program planning to attend QUT. The Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides scholarships on an ongoing basis to university and college students who want to gain international education experiences.

The “Let Learning Take You Around the World” scholarship is the first of its kind created as part of a wedding and designated to benefit an AustraLearn program participant.

“This is a wonderful example of the generosity of our alumni who are so affected by the experience they want others to have the same opportunities to study abroad,” said Kathryn Olinger, director of AustraLearn programs. “It also is an example of the pay-it-forward attitude that is so prevalent in the younger generation of today.”

Egan, originally from Carmel, N.Y., and Sachen, originally from Greenwood Village, Colo., came from two different U.S. universities to study at QUT.

“We both happened to apply to the same program to go to the same college,” Egan says. “I had changed my mind three or four times and two weeks before I was leaving, I decided to go to QUT instead. It’s fate that I ended up at the same college as him.”

At the time, Egan was studying journalism and psychology at the University of Vermont, and Sachen was studying mechanical engineering at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

After Egan and Sachen arrived at QUT, they crossed paths a few times during orientation and the first month of class and began socializing as part of a bigger group of friends. Eventually, Sachen decided to tag along with Egan and some of her friends on a backpacking trip through New Zealand. The trip included kayaking together in the Milford Sound, which resulted in lots of laughter and the foundation for a lifelong relationship.

Alex Sachen and Summer Egan counted kayaking in New Zealand among their adventures together while studying abroad.

“We just had a great time,” Egan says. “He steered me into every major waterfall.”

Before she studied abroad, Egan hadn’t traveled much outside of her home state of New York. She also had to study hard to get good grades to earn the financial aid she needed to make her semester abroad a reality. In addition, she used scholarship dollars to help pay for her flight to Australia.

For those reasons, the scholarship is being designated for someone who hasn’t traveled much before, needs some financial assistance and is a hard-working student. In addition, Egan and Sachen will review finalist applications to select the scholarship recipient.

“If it wasn’t for other people in society putting together scholarships,” says Egan, now a high school English teacher, “I probably wouldn’t have been able to go. This scholarship is our way of giving back to the program that sent us there.”

In the six years since Egan and Sachen returned from their time in Australia, both have completed undergraduate and graduate degrees, started their careers, and relocated so they could be together – first to Montana, and then to Ventura, Calif., where Sachen recently accepted a job in the oil industry and Egan is substitute teaching.

“For me, traveling abroad was such an eye opener to just growing up and being responsible,” Egan says. “It’s a source of independence and you just learn so much about yourself. Through learning about myself, I wanted to learn more about all of the things I’m interested in, and travel more.”

“That’s the spark I got,” Egan says, “and I hope I can give that spark to someone else.”

For more information on this and other scholarships for the AustraLearn, AsiaLearn and EuroLearn programs, visit the GlobaLinks Learning Abroad scholarships page.

AustraLearn’s Sote Village Project Featured In Fiji Times

Stacey — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 17:05:25 +0000

The Fiji Times is highlighting the Sote Village garden community service project completed by AustraLearn in Fiji this summer with a feature article this week about the efforts of the North American semester-abroad students and AustraLearn staff, who along with residents of the village, started a garden to benefit local school children.

An excerpt of the article “A Year of Free Lunches” by Samantha Rina at Fiji Times Online:

A YEAR’S abundant and fresh supply of lunch – this was the gift from 10 North American university students to the children of Sote Village School.

The students spent three days labouring beside villagers to plant a large garden which is expected to supply lunch for village children.

Sote Village School

The students were part of the AustraLearn semester-abroad student volunteers accompanied by two AustraLearn staff.

AustraLearn South Pacific Educational Support Center (Queensland) director Shelia Houston said students were able to learn about the lives of Fijian people and promote bonds with the host country.

“The weekend was an outstanding success and students were welcomed into the village,” Ms Houston said.

This was a hands-on project that everyone found personally fulfilling. Our students lived on site with the Sote community.”

She said the initial Sote Village garden planting was the beginning of twice-yearly community service by AustraLearn students.

Seeds planted included watermelon, cucumber, pumpkin, cauliflower, Chinese cabbage, eggplant, okra, peppers, carrots, spring onions, radishes and tomatoes.

The goals of the project are to supply a year’s worth of lunch for the village children, enrich the cultural experience of both visiting and hosting students, breaking down cultural misconceptions and underscoring for the AustraLearn participants on the benefits of contributing time, energy and talent to a charitable cause.

To read the entire article, visit Fiji Times Online.

Students Volunteer Abroad In Fiji, Plant Garden For Sote Village School

Volunteering: AUT Alumna Raising Money for Pakastani Flood Victims

Stacey — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 04:05:16 +0000

Tami Bolk surfs in New Zealand, where she studied abroad in 2009 and became inspired for more international experiences, including her current bicycling effort in South Korea to raise money for Pakistani flood victims.

Tami Bolk, an AustraLearn alumna who studied abroad in the spring of 2009 at AUT in New Zealand, is currently on a six-day bike trip to raise money for flood victims in Pakistan.

“My experience in New Zealand was truly life changing and it gave me the confidence to continue my travel endeavors,” says Bolk,a recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse.

Bolk has been teaching English this year in South Korea, where she says she’s had an incredible time immersing herself in the culture.But after following the news about the devastating floods in Pakistan, she says, “I felt compelled to do something that could possibly help even a little.”

So this week, she is attempting a six-day solo bicycle trip around Jeju Island off the coast of South Korea, hoping her effort will inspire others to donate money to UNICEF to aid the Pakistani flood victims.

“My goal is to raise $5 for every kilometer I ride, which will turn out to be around 250 kilometers,” she says.

If she is successful, she will have inspired $1,250 in donations for the cause. Anyone interested in donating can do so via Bolk’s web site at CrowdRise.com.

“Over ONE-FIFTH of the country has been submerged under water, and nearly 20 million citizens have been affected,” Bolk writes on her donation web site, “and 8 million of those are children. Imagine waking up one day and hearing the entire state of Florida had been wiped away by flood waters.”

Donating via the web site is as easy as a click of a button.

“Because of the volunteer opportunity that AustraLearn provided me with,” she says, “it opened my eyes to giving back and being incredibly grateful for my experiences while I am abroad.”

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18 “Laps For Global Education” Completed To Raise Money For Foundation For Asia Pacific Education

Stacey — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 00:31:09 +0000

Celtic Racing team’s #48 Spec Racer Ford with Dan O'Brien, GlobaLinks Learning Abroad Regional Director, at the wheel.

With a personal best lap time under his belt, Dan O’Brien completed 18 “Laps for Global Education” on Labor Day weekend to raise money for study abroad scholarships for the Foundation for Asia Pacific Education (FAPE), racing a Spec Racer Ford at Sebring International Raceway in Florida.

“The weekend racing activities went really well,” said O’Brien, regional director for the AustraLearn/AsiaLearn/EuroLearn programs of GlobaLinks Learning Abroad. “I’m pleased to report both car and driver finished the weekend without damage. Saturday’s race was shortened by 2 laps for a total of 6 laps due to an accident in high-speed turn 17. Fortunately the driver of that car was unharmed but repairs took most of the afternoon to get his car race ready for the next event.”

O’Brien, in partnership with the Community Service Team at GlobaLinks Learning Abroad, created the “Laps for Global Education” campaign to encourage others to donate to the nonprofit Foundation for Asia Pacific Education, which provides scholarships on an ongoing basis to university and college students who want to gain international education experiences in the Asia Pacific region.

O’Brien and his father, John O’Brien, together form the Celtic Racing team, which participates in the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) amateur series and races at Sebring or the Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Va. The elder O’Brien served as crew chief during the races.

On Sunday of the race weekend, the younger O’Brien achieved a personal best lap time during the race and shaved off 6 seconds from his best time at the same race last year. “I finished 12th of 25 racers on Sunday but was pleased to complete 12 laps and achieve the personal best lap time.”

Overall, O’Brien completed 18 total laps, a number upon which some donors are basing their support.

“If you have not signed up and you wish to pledge/donate any amount, you still can,” he said.

Anyone interested can donate any dollar amount now at the foundation’s web site or email their donation to Amy Deppe at adeppe@asia-pacificfoundation.org.

Philanthropy: Racing To Raise Money For Study Abroad Scholarships

Stacey — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 16:36:26 +0000

Pledge now to support Dan O’Brien as he races Labor Day laps at Sebring International Raceway for the Foundation For Asia Pacific Education

By Stacey Hartmann

GlobaLinks NewsWire Editor

Racing a car to raise money for study abroad scholarships?

You can bet – or better yet – donate on it.

That’s because Dan O’Brien, regional director for the AustraLearn/AsiaLearn/EuroLearn programs of GlobaLinks Learning Abroad, is raising money for study abroad scholarships for the Foundation for Asia Pacific Education (FAPE) by racing a Spec Racer Ford over Labor Day weekend at Sebring International Raceway in Florida.

Dan O'Brien

“The type of racing we do is strictly for fun,” O’Brien says. “There’s no money for the winner, and we’re not professional paid drivers – more like weekend warriors when time and budget permit.”

During the races, O’Brien expects to hit top speeds of 110-115 MPH from behind the wheel of the Celtic Racing team’s #48 Spec Racer Ford, which will display the logos of both the Foundation for Asia Pacific Education and the GlobaLinks Learning Abroad Community Service Team as it loops the 3.7 mile circuit during the “Members Memorial” weekend event.

“I’ll participate in two timed events on Sunday,” O’Brien says. “My first race will be about 20 minutes long, and I’ll probably log about 8 laps. The second race is longer at 30 minutes, and I’ll probably log about 12-13 laps in that race.”

Donations can be pledged in any dollar amount per lap for one or both races, or simply in any amount to support the campaign, with all money raised going directly to the foundation.

After the event, Celtic Racing will send its results to those who agreed to pledge or donate. Anyone interested can donate now at the foundation’s web site or email their donation to Amy Deppe at adeppe@asia-pacificfoundation.org.

Celtic Racing’s Spec Racer Ford is “known for its cornering and handling abilities but lacks some straight-end speed compared to some other cars in its class,” O’Brien says. “It performs well in corners and the driver is able to maintain better control and speed compared to some of the other cars it races.”

At the Sebring track, O’Brien expects to average lap speeds of about 80 MPH.

“This is my dad’s car and it stays in Florida for most of the year,” O’Brien says. “He’s been racing for over seven years, and I earned my license just over two years ago. We usually split seat time over a race weekend – I’ll race one and he’ll race the other – but this particular weekend I’ll race both events.”

While the younger O’Brien is racing this weekend, the elder O’Brien will serve as crew chief.

Last October, Celtic Racing, which at that time also included driver Mick Robinson, won 1st in class at the 13-hour endurance race at Virginia International Raceway.

“We finished 15th overall of 49 cars,” O’Brien says. “In that event each driver ran approximately one hour before coming in the pits for refueling and a driver change. That was our first 13-hour event at VIR.”

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