Twenty-six students are preparing now for the experience of a lifetime, thanks to the MTSU Office of Education Abroad.

With a total of more than $70,000 in Education Abroad scholarships, these students will be able to spend either the fall 2016 semester or the entire academic year studying in 14 different countries.

Eligibility criteria for the scholarships include:

• a minimum 2.8 GPA for degree-seeking undergraduate students or a minimum 3.3 GPA for graduate students.
• completion of at least one semester at MTSU before studying abroad.
• participation in a credit-bearing study-abroad course.

Each applicant also must complete an essay explaining his or her goals.

“We really want the essay to focus on why you chose a specific program, how well it benefits you academically when you return to MTSU — and maybe even for your future career,” said Tiffany Bickers, director of the Office of Education Abroad.

The university’s International Education and Exchange Committee decides on the scholarship winners and also consider financial need, program location and program length when determining scholarship awards.

The money comes from the International Education Fund, which is fueled in part by the program services fee paid by MTSU students each semester.

MTSU sends more than 350 students abroad annually throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and South America.

The newest MTSU Education Abroad Scholarship recipients and their destinations are:

• Colin Bentley of Lenoir City, Tennessee; academic year, Providence University, Taiwan.
• Kayo Beshir of Antioch, Tennessee; fall semester, Universidad de Sevilla, Spain.
• Brianna Browning of Seymour, Tennessee; academic year, University of Seoul, South Korea.
• Taylor Burney of Olathe, Kansas; fall semester, Popakademie University, Germany.
• Morgan Carter of Springfield, Virginia; fall semester, Macquarie University, Australia.
• Sydney Casteel of Shelbyville, Tennessee; academic year, University of Brighton, England.
• Dalin Chan of McMinnville, Tennessee; fall semester, East China Normal University, China.
• Rebecca Clippard of Murfreesboro; academic year, Kansai Gaidai University, Japan.
• Ashley Duchac of Murfreesboro; fall semester, Ulster Coleraine University, Northern Ireland.
• Raven Evans of Country Club Hills, Illinois; fall semester, Glasgow Caledonian University, Scotland.
• Christina Franklin of Murfreesboro; fall semester, Griffith University, Australia.
• Kansas Glasgow of Lebanon, Tennessee; fall semester, King’s College, England.
• Leia Green of Thompson’s Station, Tennessee; fall semester, Universidad del Norte, Colombia.
• Andrew Heim of Murfreesboro; academic year, University of Glasgow, Scotland.
• Elvis Hoang of Antioch, Tennessee; fall semester, Ehwa Womans University, South Korea.
• Daniel Knickerbocker of Lakeland, Tennessee; academic year, Kansai Gaidai University, Japan.
• Christian Lawrence of Culleoka, Tennessee, fall semester, Seinan Gakuin University, Japan.
• Melinda Lewis of Murfreesboro; fall semester, Christ University, India.
• Jessica Magana of Jonesborough, Tennessee; fall semester, Universidad del Pacifico, Peru.
• Emilya Mailyan of Brentwood, Tennessee; fall semester, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Spain.
• Ashley Martinez of Murfreesboro; fall semester, Shanghai University, China.
• Hailey Randolph of Murfreesboro; academic year, Saitama University, Japan.
• Aaron Schwartz of Bell Buckle, Tennessee; academic year, Reitaku University, Japan.
• Samuel Smallman of Murfreesboro; academic year, Kansai Gaidai University, Japan.
• Rachel Vincent of Nashville, Tennessee; academic year, Kansai Gaidai University, Japan.
• Jakub Wolfe of Smyrna, Tennessee; fall semester, Universidad de Salamanca Cursos Internacionales en Cusco, Peru.

For more information on MTSU study-abroad programs, contact Bickers at 615-898-5179 or tiffany.bickers@mtsu.edu or visit the Office of Education Abroad website at http://mtsu.studioabroad.com.

— Gina K. Logue (gina.logue@mtsu.edu)