Study Abroad
December 4, 2018
By Josie Hinke '22
University of Portland’s David Vargas Puga ’21 recently became one of only 22 students nationwide to receive a scholarship from Fund for Education Abroad (FEA), a program which focuses on making study abroad opportunities accessible to all students. Vargas Puga, a Spanish and Computer Science double-major, is the first student from the University of Portland to receive the award since the program was created in 2010. All 22 students who received the award for Spring 2019 are first generation college students, and many come from minority backgrounds.
Vargas Puga, who will use his scholarship for a semester abroad in Spain, is a first generation college student from Hillsboro, Oregon with Mexican-American heritage. He speaks Spanish as his first language and decided to major in it because he believes there is always room for improvement and wants to learn how to speak the language more formally. He has never been to Spain before and his top three goals for studying abroad are “to become more proficient in Spanish; to experience Spain’s living traditions; to expand my perspective and communication skills.” Vargas Puga leaves for Spain in January and will stay in the country until May. He plans on visiting the local museums, attending local holiday events, and connecting with Computer Science students at the University of Granada.
Vargas Puga was encouraged to apply to FEA by Dr. Eduardo Contreras, Assistant Provost for International Education, Diversity and Inclusion, who works closely with the University of Portland study abroad programs. Vargas Puga’s application to the program demonstrated his resilience and determination, and illustrated why the Granada study abroad program would be beneficial to him as a Computer Science and Spanish double major. He plans on using his majors to be a strong candidate in the 21st century job world. “Spanish may be useful in large companies that have offices in Spanish-speaking countries since engineers will often need to collaborate with other engineers that speak Spanish,” he noted. Working in an environment like that would be a true combination of his unique skills, which are a testament to the diversity and unique opportunities available at the University of Portland.
Dr. Contreras is the Assistant Provost for International Education, Diversity, and Inclusion at the University of Portland. Dr. Contreras is passionate about the idea that “every student at the University should have a significant international experience,” whether it’s through studying abroad, doing immersive service trips, or even interacting with the international community on a local scale. Dr. Contreras has worked with an organization called Diversity Abroad since the program was founded in 2006 and works to help underrepresented groups gain access to study abroad opportunities. The FEA typically goes to students from Community Colleges, Hispanic Serving Institutions, or Historically Black Colleges, but Dr. Contreras says that he knows that UP has diversity to be celebrated as well.
Dr. Contreras cited Vargas Puga’s communication skills, hard work, and fascinating combination of degrees as the primary reasons for his eligibility for the award, “this award is a testament to David’s unique skills.” Vargas Puga’s hard work and role as a thoughtful undergraduate illustrate the amazing potential of University of Portland students.
In addition to the Fund for Education Abroad scholarship, Vargas Puga also received the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman scholarship. The Gilman Scholarship Program is open to U.S. citizen undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university to participate in study and intern abroad programs worldwide.
For over 50 years, the University of Portland has offered opportunities for students to explore the world through academic programs abroad and cultivate a global exchange of ideas. Their mission is to uphold inclusive access, academic excellence, measurable learning outcomes, and the health and safety of our faculty, staff, and students abroad. With destinations from Austria to Ecuador to Tanzania, the possibilities are endless.
The mission of the Fund for Education Abroad is to provide scholarships and ongoing support to students who are underrepresented among the US study abroad population. FEA makes life-changing, international experiences accessible to all by supporting minority, community college, and first-generation college students before, during, and after they participate in education abroad programs. For more information visit https://fundforeducationabroad.org/
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