By PATRICIA PIXLER
Student Reporter
In the Spring of 2017, one Northwestern Oklahoma State University student will be studying abroad in Wales at Swansea University. Sydnie Lowe, a senior double major in Biology and English with a chemistry minor, from Missouri, was selected as the 2016-2017 Brad Henry International Scholar.
The Brad Henry International Scholarship was established to give an opportunity for one undergraduate student, from each of Oklahoma’s regional universities, to participate in a semester abroad at Swansea University in Wales. Students may choose to attend during either the Fall or Spring semester. Lowe chose the Spring semester to take advantage of classes available during NWOSU’s rotating class schedule this fall.
“They offer bio-chemistry in the fall here and I needed to take it. Everyone is asking if I chose [spring] for the weather,” Lowe said.
The spring semester at Swansea University ends in April, giving Lowe four months in Europe. “I’m supposed to fly out January fourth or so,” Lowe said. After the program ends, Lowe plans to stay in Europe for a few weeks to make trips. Currently she plans to visit both Paris and Berlin, while abroad.
“I’m in Europe, you know. I should take advantage” Lowe said.
The Brad Henry International Scholarship award amount is $10,000. This allows major educational expenses to be paid for while abroad. As Lowe pointed out, “My flight, my tuition obviously, I’m pretty sure my housing as well is covered.” Other expenses and traveling is paid for out of pocket, but even that doesn’t need to break the bank. On the subject of traveling to other countries while in Wales. “I think the [airplane] tickets were usually only $80. I have to do it for that,” Lowe said.
Lowe is undecided about which classes she will be taking so far, but hopes to study German among other subjects. “Their school is like how we chose our majors,” Lowe said. “You pick a school to apply to and you take classes at that school. I don’t want to just take German classes, I want to take this and that, so I’ll see what happens,” Lowe said.
Academics and traveling aren’t the only activities Lowe hopes to take part in while in Europe. Lowe, an experienced skydiver, plans to skydive while there. “I also found this thing called coasteering, which is a thrill sport. Kind of like cliff diving,” Lowe said.
Europe’s longest zip-line, the hiking trails and St. Patrick’s Day, in Dublin, are also on the agenda.
Traveling, let alone living, in another country can seem intimidating for some but Lowe isn’t too worried. “No to the worries because I think I’m naïve,” she said. “I don’t know what to expect. It’s all new.”
Though Lowe admits to having fears of landing in a foreign country and not knowing what to do, she’s realistic about it. “It’s not something that’s going to keep me up at night. I’m sure I’ll find my way around,” Lowe said.
Lowe is still making preparations but is eager to go abroad. “I’m just waiting for it to be here so I can go over there and enjoy it,” she said. Lowe noted she applied to the scholarship because she knew college was the perfect time to go abroad for an extended stay without major responsibilities. “I knew I had the opportunity, so I went for it,” Lowe said.
Previous Brad Henry International Scholar for the 2015-2016 year, Chandler Steckbeck, a senior English major from Enid, encourages students to apply for the scholarship. “Just apply. They can only say no. There is no application fee or other risk in applying for the scholarship. But by applying, you have the chance to go abroad and have a wonderful experience,” Steckbeck said,
Sources:
Sydnie Lowe, snlowe50@rangers.nwosu.edu
Chandler Steckbeck, cgsteckbeck87@rangers.nwosu.edu
https://www.okhighered.org/state-system/policy-procedures/2015/Chapter%205-2015.pdf
Photo note: Sydnie wanted to use the photo that was used in the other articles about her Brad Henry scholarship. I couldn’t catch her for another photo.