Brawn Family Foundation gift to sponsor U of L student in Semester at Sea program

trevor.kenney — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 17:41:39 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge students will have the opportunity to participate in a once-in-a-lifetime experience thanks to the generosity of the Brawn Family Foundation and the Semester at Sea program.

Kelley Buckley, left, and her parents Carole and Robert Brawn, announced the Brawn Family Foundation gift to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

Each year, the Brawn Family Foundation will provide a scholarship for one U of L student to take part in Semester at Sea. Established in 1963, Semester at Sea consists of 100-to-110-day international passenger ship voyages where students visit up to 15 countries in one semester. They learn from leading faculty and international experts, engage in hands-on field experiences and service projects at each destination and earn academic credit.

“The whole goal of our foundation is to give back and create a bigger, better community,” says Kelley Buckley (BA ’84), one of Dr. Robert Brawn’s (LLD ’16) daughters and director of the Brawn Family Foundation. “My father realized what a powerful program Semester at Sea was. Both of my kids, my sister’s kids, my sister and I have all sailed and he just felt it made a dramatic difference in our lives. As well, since four of our family are U of L alums, this was a great way to combine two programs that have impacted our lives.”

Each year, more than 2,000 participants circumnavigate the globe aboard the MV World Odyssey. Sponsored by Colorado State ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, the program champions a global comparative experiential learning model as it connects students to world challenges and fosters global awareness through profound international learning experiences.

For Buckley, the experience was transformative, and she attests that each family member who subsequently went to sea was similarly influenced.

“You realize how small the world really is and how impactful your footprint can be in the big picture,” she says. “It’s changed all of our lives and we just feel that everyone needs an opportunity to go outside their comfort zone and look at the big global picture and see how small the world actually is. Everything you do can make a difference.”

She describes the ripple effect of a Semester at Sea education.

“Just one student sailing and then coming back can change a handful of students at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and then they change another handful and it just grows from there,” she says.

The Brawn Family Foundation scholarship will be available to students across all disciplines at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. Eligible participants must be a second-year undergraduate student, a Canadian resident or permanent resident and have been accepted to participate by Semester at Sea. Applicants must have successfully completed 10 courses with a minimum GPA of 2.75 and will be required to answer essay questions for consideration, focusing on how they expect their voyage will impact their education and how the experience will be translated and promoted on campus upon their return.

Paul Pan, executive director International at the U of L, says the goals and mission of the Semester at Sea program align with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s internationalization strategy which encompasses liberal arts ideals and the strategic direction of graduating global citizens.

“The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is committed to the internationalization of our campus,” he says. “Providing our students with educational abroad experiences such as the Semester at Sea program is vital in providing our graduates with global perspectives, international and intercultural skills and knowledge to succeed in an increasingly interdependent world.”

U of L students can now apply to be the first successful U of L Brawn Family Foundation scholarship candidate to sail with Semester at Sea. Contact the International Office at 403-329-2053 for more information.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ excited to celebrate International Education Week and the global perspective

trevor.kenney — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 17:10:44 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge will join over 100 countries around the globe in celebrating International Education Week (IEW) Nov. 6-10, 2017 with a host of performances, demonstrations, lectures, films and assorted activities.

As part of IEW, the Department of Asian Studies and the International Office will also be presenting Asian Culture Days.

“Our campus is truly a global campus, with students from more than 70 countries attending the U of L,” says Paul Pan, executive director, International. “We are extremely fortunate that our campus experience features this amazing collection of people from all over the world. We have this great opportunity to learn from each other, share our experiences and gain a global perspective.”

The week begins with a major gift announcement from the Brawn Family Foundation that supports students and global citizenship at 12 p.m. in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Centre for the Arts Atrium. There will be a photo booth in the atrium where students are invited to share what International Education Week means to them and a performance from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s Global Drums ensemble.

Throughout the week, a variety of events have been designed to both illuminate and celebrate internationalization. Asian Culture Days activities include lectures, performances from the Taka Karate School and Champion Tae Kwon Do, feature films, Minyo Dancers and more.

“Creating intercultural skills through events such as these leads to knowledge and understanding,” says Pan. “We are proud to graduate students with an enhanced world view, giving them an advantage both culturally and professionally as they look to succeed in an increasingly interdependent world.”

For a complete look at IEW and Asian Culture Days events, follow this link: http://www.uleth.ca/international/international-education-week-and-asian-culture-days-2017

UNews - International Office

Brawn Family Foundation gift to sponsor U of L student in Semester at Sea program

Related Topics

��Ѹ�����Դ���߿�Ƭ excited to celebrate International Education Week and the global perspective

Related Topics

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ excited to celebrate International Education Week and the global perspective