I am happy to report that 9 KU students traveled with me to Costa Rica at the end of May for the inaugural TRIO Developing Global Perspective study abroad. We toured Irazu Volcano National Park, the Reserva Monteverde cloud forest, historical and cultural sites in San Jose and Monteverde, and met with students and professors from the University of Costa Rica to learn and practice intercultural communication. The majority of the students were traveling outside the U.S. for the first time; many have already commented on how this experience has impacted them positively and helped them to be more confident about travel and interacting with individuals from other nations and cultures.

We could not have made this happen without the support of our donors! Students were able to significantly reduce the cost of the program because of your generosity. 

Thank you so much,

Dr. Julie Hamel

Assistant Director for Student Programming, TRIO Supportive Educational Services

Our project closes tonight, and I am so grateful for those that have already donated to help us reach our goal!  Whatever our final amount, every dollar will go towards helping our KU TRIO students with funding for study abroad. 

First generation and low income students that I have traveled with in the past have shared with me how impactful their trips have been, noting that they gained in confidence, learned about themselves and others, and saw new opportunities they had not considered before.

Thank you for your generosity and please share this with any of your connections that might be interested in donating in these final hours.

Dr. Julie Hamel 

TRIO SES & STEM

Project Coordinator

It has been wonderful to see this fund grow, and to personally hear from students that have participated in the past!  

In their words - 

• "This experience was amazing!  I definitely would encourage students to study abroad."
• "Studying abroad is an opportunity not everyone is given! I learned so much on this trip and am very appreciative I could go. Please help out other  students so they too can have a once-in-a-lifetime experience!"

Every donation is appreciated, and will go directly towards scholarships to make this international program more accessible to our TRIO students.

Thank you for your support!

Dr. Julie Hamel 

TRIO SES & STEM

Project Coordinator

Thank you to those that have donated so far!  I have heard students express how life-changing a study abroad experience is to them, especially when they felt international programs were previously out of reach. Any funding we receive through this project will go directly to our KU TRIO students that hope to travel to Costa Rica in May 2022, and every size of donation is appreciated.

Dr. Julie Hamel 

KU TRIO SES & STEM

Project Coordinator