Nearly 1,000 Yellow Jackets have studied abroad in the past decade. Each one took the opportunity to enrich their undergraduate experience by immersing themselves in a new culture, forming lasting connections with a close-knit group of fellow travelers, and putting their classroom studies to the test in stimulating environments.

The Fund for International Study Abroad, an RMC endowed fund, helps students with financial limitations take part in the life-changing opportunity to expand their worldview and apply classroom concepts to real-world experiences. The fund was established in 2018 by an alumna of the Class of 1993 and aids access to international courses for students who might not be able to afford the extra costs. A similar fund to assist student travel was established this past December by Dr. Tom’ 75 and Susan ’76 Hubbard, with a preference given to students who have a job on or off campus while studying at Randolph-Macon.

“Studying abroad through RMC, whether short-term or long-term, is an opportunity that fosters students’ personal growth and lifelong learning through cultural immersion and experiential education—helping our students learn about and understand other ideas, customs, languages, and societies,” said Mayumi Nakamura, Director of International Education at RMC. “Acquiring more independence, adaptability, social, and life skills through international experience will make students more uniquely competent and successful in accomplishing their academic and professional goals.”

Financial assistance from the Fund for International Study Abroad will be distributed to recipients with a demonstrated need participating in a short-term or semester-long travel course during the 2022-2023 academic year. Students participating in a semester or year-long study abroad program will need to apply through the Office of International Education (OIE); however, due to the nature of the fund, students will automatically qualify for an award unless they have been awarded another study abroad scholarship through OIE. As part of the scholarship requirements, awardees will write a letter to the donors describing their study abroad experience and what they loved most about their time abroad.

The continued growth of the Fund for International Study Abroad provides Randolph-Macon the opportunity to broaden the accessibility of studying abroad and assist students with associated costs. While currently the application of funds is limited to semester or year-long programs based on financial availability and number of applicants, OIE hopes to one day be able to maximize the use by extending availability to January term and short-term study.

The Jessie Ball duPont Fund partnered with Randolph-Macon College during a recent November-December campaign period to match gifts dollar-for-dollar up to $500 per transaction and $25,000 total in support of the fund. Thanks to the generosity of the College’s donors, RMC was able to raise $25,606 from 72 individual donors to qualify for the full match from the Jessie Ball duPont Fund plus a bonus of $2,200.

“It goes without saying that the fund is one of the most impactful scholarships for our study abroad students in recent years. Joined by the Jessie Ball duPont Fund and a number of donors who contributed their generous gifts, the impact of this growing fund will be enormous,” said Nakamura. “ We will be able to reach out and help a much broader student population, particularly historically underrepresented students, who may not otherwise consider study abroad as a choice during their time at RMC.”

This is the second year in a row the Jessie Ball duPont Fund has offered a matching gift opportunity to RMC. Last year, donors gave more than $50,000 to create and endow the Multicultural Alumni Association Scholarship, a scholarship to support a student who has demonstrated leadership qualities, a passion for community engagement, and is a member of a marginalized community.

During fundraising, the College connected with former and current students to share their study abroad stories and highlight the incredible impact international courses can have on a student’s time at Randolph-Macon and beyond.

“I think every single person should study abroad at some point in their life,” said Emma Jones ’23 about her transformative international study experience in Scotland in fall 2021. “I would never have the confidence and independence that I do now without it. This experience pushed me to travel to a country I had never been in and where I knew absolutely no one. Now, at the end of my journey here, I am leaving with lifelong friends and so many stories I can share.”