Alumni Reunion: From Central Asia to Central America

Alumni Reunion: From Central Asia to Central America

My name is Nursuluu, and I am a Global UGRAD alumna from Kyrgyzstan. This year I graduated university in Kyrgyzstan, and I am currently working for a youth NGO called Novi Ritm as a Project Coordinator. I have also been volunteering with the MediAct project, which has youth workshops in three different countries, and one of those countries is El Salvador. …

An Alumni Reunion Three Years in the Making

An Alumni Reunion Three Years in the Making

Abdessadeq, Sofiia, and Michelle met at Marymount University on August 23rd, 2016. We instantly clicked since that first day and our friendship has been flourishing ever since. Together, we got to experience what I’d call an authentic U.S. exchange experience as we shared memories not only on campus, but also while traveling along the East Coast and through the Midwest. …

American Model United Nations 2018 Conference (AMUN)

American Model United Nations 2018 Conference (AMUN)

As an exchange student of International Relations (IR) at University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire (UWEC), I decided to get involved with any possible organizations both on and off campus that could enrich my educational background and shape my professional path in IR. For that, I decided to join the Model United Nations Club, having taken a related course about International Organizations at …

International Education Day by Leandro Emanuel Garcia Vallecillos

International Education Day by Leandro Emanuel Garcia Vallecillos

It was April 4th, 2018 when study abroad, international connections, future bonds between countries, and friendships from around the world were celebrated at the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City. It was January 7th, 2018 when I started my journey as an international student at the University of Missouri-Columbia. After three months of new experiences, new ways to think, and hundreds of …

Winter Olympics Special: Athletics and Global UGRAD

Winter Olympics Special: Athletics and Global UGRAD

As the world’s attention turns toward the 23rd Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, we asked current and former Global UGRAD participants to reflect on the importance of sports in their lives. The following are short paragraphs written by students who excel not only in the classroom, but in stadiums and gymnasiums around the world. In shining a spotlight …

El Salvador Alumni Update: Enner Morales

It’s been four years since I finished the Global UGRAD Program, one of the most amazing adventures I could ever dream of. Through this journey, I had not only an academic exchange, but also a life-changing experience that shaped me into the person I am today. During the program I got involved in the Illinois State University (ISU) Leads Leadership …

From Where I Stand Part II – the Global UGRAD photojournalism project

From Where I Stand Part II – the Global UGRAD photojournalism project

Ani Khachatryan, Armenia, University of Memphis, Global UGRAD 2016-17 After spending four exciting months in the U.S., I went back to Armenia with valuable and unforgettable experiences and reunited with my friends and family. Since then I have finished a Data Science program and have received a professional certificate from Microsoft. Right now, I am in Boston, MA doing an awesome …

AEIF Project Competition Winners

Each year, the U.S. Department of State hosts its Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) project competition which supports alumni initiatives that promote shared values and innovative solutions to global challenges. This year, out of 1,014 project submissions, 68 teams have been selected as finalists. The coolest part? Four of these teams are composed of Global UGRAD Alumni! Read on to learn more …

El Salvador Alumni Update by Henry Martinez

Warm greetings from El Salvador! I did my exchange program at the University of Mississippi from 2012 to 2013. Upon my return to my home country I finished my degree in Economics and Business and I graduated with the distinction of magna cum laude. Since finishing my degree, I started to work in the private sector in El Salvador. By now I am …