What’s in Your Bag?

What’s in Your Bag?

Every semester, a new cohort of UGRAD students arrives in the United States, excited to begin the once-in-a-lifetime experience of the Global UGRAD Program. While they will spend the coming months exploring a new country and meeting new people, they will also retain their connections to their homes in a variety of ways. Despite limited space in their suitcases, UGRAD …

Alumni Spotlight: Thailand

Alumni Spotlight: Thailand

This month we are proud to feature Nadthawee Promprasit, an alumna from Thailand who participated in the Global UGRAD Program in the spring of 2024. As a biology major at Nazareth University in Rochester, New York, she advanced her STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) education and widely explored her passion for new languages and cultures outside of the classroom. Recently, …

End of Program Workshop Photo Contest and Scavenger Hunt

End of Program Workshop Photo Contest and Scavenger Hunt

What is one word to describe the final night of the End of Program Workshop? Celebration! A well-known Global UGRAD tradition, the photo contest is the perfect way for students to share the best snapshots of their exchange experience. Students were asked to submit photos of their best memories in the following categories: American Experiences, Community Service, School Spirit, Sharing …

Alumni Spotlight: Paraguay

Alumni Spotlight: Paraguay

Over the past several months, Global UGRAD alumni from Paraguay have been busy spreading the word about the program. Alumni spanning several cohorts have gathered on multiple occasions to raise awareness about Global UGRAD amongst prospective applicants and future program participants. Silvia Alvarenga, who completed her exchange semester at SUNY Plattsburgh in the fall of 2022, summarized these events and …

Current Student Spotlight: Kenya

Current Student Spotlight: Kenya

Hello, my name is Ian Adipo, and I am from Kenya. Global UGRAD is an enriching experience that I have long wanted to be a part of. My dreams came true in January 2023, when I was selected for an interview out of hundreds of applicants. After successfully interviewing, I moved on to the next phase and completed my TOEFL …

Travel and Adventures

Travel and Adventures

Throughout the semester, Global UGRAD students have used their weekends and spring break to explore cities and regions across the United States. From Chicago to Los Angeles to New York City, Global UGRADs have visited many popular cities as well as a number of sites off the beaten path. Below are some stories and highlights that Global UGRADs have shared …

Community Service Highlights

Community Service Highlights

This semester, students have been working diligently to complete one of the Global UGRAD Program’s most meaningful requirements: community service. From supporting children in the foster care system to tagging sharks for important research, our students have served their host communities in a variety of ways. We are proud to feature a sample of some exceptional students’ volunteer experiences. Ajla …

Alumni Spotlight: Kyrgyzstan

Alumni Spotlight: Kyrgyzstan

“Once a UGRAD, always a UGRAD!” This statement resonates deeply with me and many others who have had the privilege of participating in the Global UGRAD Program. My name is Aigerim Kurmanbekova, and as a proud Wayne State Warrior representing Kyrgyzstan at Wayne State University during the fall semester of 2019, I have come to understand the profound impact this …

Campus Visit: Emporia State University

Campus Visit: Emporia State University

In March, Sarah Halligan, Global UGRAD Program Officer, had the opportunity to visit Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas. During this visit, she met the four Global UGRAD students studying at Emporia State this semester and explored the Emporia State campus. Emporia State has hosted Global UGRAD students since 2014, and the students currently attending are thoroughly enjoying their experience. …