DSU students secure passports through generous alumni donation
Cleveland, MS (08/07/2024) — Contact: Christy Riddle FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Phone: (662) 846-4336
Email: criddle@deltastate.edu
DSU students secure passports through generous alumni donation
CLEVELAND, Miss. - A generous alumni donation to DSU International Student Services enabled ten undergraduate and graduate students to receive their first U.S. passports as part of the pilot DSU Goes Global Passport Grant program. The grant reimbursed students for the $165 cost of their passports. Eligible students applied from a variety of degree programs including nursing, human resources management, digital media arts, school counseling, and biology.
The goal of the grant is to increase DSU students' access to global education opportunities by removing the financial hurdle of obtaining a first U.S. passport. "This was a successful inaugural round of passport grants," said Michelle Johansen, assistant coordinator for International Student Services. "In fact, we had twice as many applicants as passport grants available for the spring. DSU students are excited about studying and traveling abroad but often face obstacles. This grant empowers motivated students, especially from historically underrepresented communities, to explore and develop new knowledge, skills, and perspectives around the world, which is an advantage when applying to graduate school and employment."
The grantees averaged a 3.44 overall grade point average, the majority are Pell grant-receiving or eligible, and one-quarter are first-generation college students.
Demyia Graham, a graduate student in the Master of Education in Counseling program from Port Gibson said, "I chose to apply for the DSU Goes Global Passport Grant Program because one of my goals for 2024 was to receive my passport. Every year I set new goals for myself and getting my passport was essential to me and to starting a new tradition in my family. I am the first person in my immediate family to have a passport."
Four of the ten students used their passports to study abroad for college credit this summer. Three students studied in a two-week, faculty-led study abroad program with the DSU Department of Art in Vienna, Austria. Another student completed psychology courses for five weeks while in London, Paris, Berlin, and Prague.
"I decided to apply for the DSU Goes Global Passport Grant because I was going out of the country for a school trip this summer! I hope to be able to use my new passport for other study abroad opportunities and possibly moving out of the country," said Ollie Nerren of Grenada, one of the art students who traveled to Austria.
"I am incredibly thankful to have been selected for the passport grant, which will enable me to fulfill my aspirations of travel abroad," said Hannah Lee, a senior in nursing from Olive Branch. "Additionally, this grant has paved the way for me to pursue a career as a traveling nurse, expanding my horizons and allowing me to provide care in diverse global settings."
Another grantee, Zoie Walker a junior nursing major from Jackson, said, "To the donors that make it possible, thank you so much for allowing me to have the opportunity to travel outside of the United States."
In-kind support has come from other campus offices as well. Thanks to a collaboration with the DSU Office of Communications and Marketing, grant recipients received free passport pictures, thereby removing another financial and logistical barrier.
For more information about the DSU Goes Global Passport Grant, including how to make a tax-deductible financial gift enabling more DSU students to receive passports, please contact Michelle Johansen at mjohansen@deltastate.edu or stop by the International Student Services office on the second floor of the Union.
Cutline 1: (L to R) Emily Manning, Anna Schmitz and Ollie Nerren were among the DSU students who received grants to purchase passports in order to study abroad this year.
Cutline 2: Demyia Graham displays her new passport received through the DSU Goes Global Passport Grant.
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(L to R) Emily Manning, Anna Schmitz and Ollie Nerren were among the DSU students who received grants to purchase passports in order to study abroad this year.
Demyia Graham displays her new passport received through the DSU Goes Global Passport Grant.