DIWC RECIPIENTS

 

After reading over 84 applications, Diverse International Women of Color is pleased to announce its first four winners for The Diverse International Women of Color 2019 Summer Study Abroad Scholarship. Each recipient will receive $500 to help with their summer study abroad program cost. The four recipients are Rosa Isela Ponce Vargas (top left), rising senior at University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW), Christina Presmy (side left), rising sophomore at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Yaritza Marin (top right), senior at University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and Darriya Starr (bottom right), rising senior at Harvard University. Personally, Alhia knows firsthand how difficult it can be to maintain financial status abroad and that is why she created the scholarship. Her mission with this scholarship is to encourage, inspire and promote more Women of Color to broaden their horizons beyond the United States and expose them to different cultures. She wanted to pay it forward and remind female college students of color that there is a way, an avenue, to take that leap of faith to go abroad. Studying abroad will define your personal goals, outcomes and potentially expand your knowledge of self.

 

 
 
Diverse International Women of Color Inc. is pleased to announce its recipients for The Diverse International Women of Color 2021 Summer Study Abroad Scholarship. Recipients will either receive $250 or $500 from us to help with their summer study abroad program cost. The eight recipients are as follows: Emma Sprayberry (top left), rising sophomore at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She will receive $500. Kayla Marshall (top middle), rising junior at the University of Nevada. She will receive $500. Eileen Calub (top right), rising senior at the University of Florida. She will receive $500. Brinda Bobbala (middle left), rising junior at Southern Methodist University. She will receive $250. Lauren Werner (middle right), senior at Humboldt State University. She will receive $250. Lilibeth Ramirez (bottom left), senior at the University of Texas at Austin. She will receive $500. Consuelo Arroyo (bottom middle), senior at Arizona State University. She will receive $500. Marlene L. Campos Guerrero (bottom right), rising second year PhD student at Washington University. She will receive $500. Thank you so much to DIWC’s Board of Directors, DIWC’s Application Review Committee, family and friends, colleges and everyone who helped share this year’s scholarship opportunity. 
 
 
Diverse International Women of Color, Inc. is pleased to announce its winners for The Diverse International Women of Color Summer 2022 Study Abroad Scholarship. Recipients will receive either $250 or $500 from us to help with their summer study abroad program cost. The nine recipients are as follows: Lydia Arce (top left), graduate student at San Jose State University. She will receive $500. Josalyn Chow (top middle), rising junior at the University of California, Riverside. She will receive $500. Bailey Speight (top right), graduate student at the University of Florida. She will receive $500. Tamia Adams (middle left), graduate student at Mercer University. She will receive $500. Monica Meza (center), graduate student at North Carolina State University. She will receive $500. Thea Gay (middle right), senior at the University of Florida. She will receive $500. Nashely Alvarez (bottom left), rising senior at Vanderbilt University. She will receive $500. Atia Bailey (bottom middle), rising senior at Mercer University. She will receive $250. This $250 scholarship has been generously provided by ODMÉ Candle Co. Nicolette Alexandra (bottom right), rising junior at Rutgers University. She will receive $250. This $250 scholarship has been generously provided by Mr. ChoppedCheese. Thank you so much to DIWC’s Board of Directors, DIWC’s Application Review Committee, family and friends and everyone who helped share this year’s scholarship opportunity. A special thank you  to our sponsors this application cycle, Mr. William Gertz at American Institute For Foreign Study (AIFS), Inc. and The Cyril Taylor Charitable Foundation, ODMÉ Candle Co., Mr. Chopped Cheese, Mr. Isaiah Cobb and all of the donors from our 2022 Women’s History Month fundraiser.
  
 
 
 
 
 
Diverse International Women of Color, Inc. is pleased to announce its winners for The Diverse International Women of Color Spring 2023 Study Abroad Scholarship. Recipients will receive $500 from us to help with their Spring study abroad program cost. The two recipients are as follows: Bryneé Evans (left), junior at The University at Southern California. Natalie Nguyen (right), sophomore at The University of Nevada Las Vegas.Thank you so much to DIWC’s Board of Directors, DIWC’s Application Review Committee, family, friends, colleges and everyone who helped share this scholarship opportunity. A special thank you to our sponsors this application cycle, Mr. William Gertz at American Institute For Foreign Study (AIFS), Inc. and Ms. Alyssa Nota at University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC).
  
 
 
Diverse International Women of Color, Inc. is pleased to announce its winners for The Diverse International Women of Color Summer 2023 Study Abroad Scholarship. Recipients will receive $500 from us to help with their summer study abroad program cost. The 12 recipients are as follows: Tanya Qu (1st row 1st picture), rising junior at Brown University. Jolecia Saunderson (1st row 2nd picture), rising senior at Brandeis University. Dhyana Kida (1st row 3rd picture), rising senior at Seattle Pacific University. Moona Shaik (1st row 4th picture), rising senior at The University of Texas at Dallas. Elise Gonzalez (2nd row 1st picture), senior at California State University, Fullerton. Eimy Rios (2nd row 2nd picture), rising junior at the University of California Riverside. Amayah Bell (2nd row 3rd picture ), rising junior at Coppin State University. Abion Stevens (2nd row 4th picture), sophomore at University of Houston. Juanita Rodriguez (3rd row 1st picture), rising junior at Marian University. Veronica Nwanna (3rd row 2nd picture), rising senior at The University of Houston. Quintessence Townsend (3rd row 3rd picture), graduate student at Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. Jessica Andrade (3rd row 4th picture), senior at Northern Arizona University.Thank you so much to DIWC’s Board of Directors, DIWC’s Application Review Committee, family and friends and everyone who helped share this year’s scholarship opportunity. A special thank you to our sponsors this application cycle, Mr. William Gertz at American Institute For Foreign Study (AIFS), Inc. and The Cyril Taylor Charitable Foundation, Ms. Alyssa Nota at University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC) and Brandon A. McCullough’s family and friends.
 
 
Diverse International Women of Color, Inc. is pleased to announce its winners for The Diverse International Women of Color Fall 2023 Study Abroad Scholarship. Recipients will receive $500 from us to help with their Fall study abroad program cost. The six recipients are as follows: Destiny Hanks (top left), rising senior at The University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Zuri Wilson (top middle), junior at The University of California, Santa Barbara. Truc Ma (top right), rising senior at The University of California, Berkeley. Kanna Parker (bottom left), rising sophomore at Loyola Marymount University. Tamari Beard (bottom middle), rising senior at The University of New Mexico. Akini-Rei Coleman (bottom right), senior at the University of Colorado Denver. Thank you so much to DIWC’s Board of Directors, DIWC’s Application Review Committee, family and friends and everyone who helped share this year’s scholarship opportunity. A special thank you to our sponsors and donors this application cycle, Mr. William Gertz, President and CEO at The American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS)/ The Cyril Taylor Charitable Foundation, Brandon A. McCullough’s family and friends, Ms. Alyssa Nota, CEO and President at University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC) and donations from our 5th anniversary raffle!
 
Diverse International Women of Color, Inc. is pleased to announce its winners for The Diverse International Women of Color Spring 2024 Study Abroad Scholarship. Recipients will receive $500 or $250 from us to help with their Spring study abroad program cost. The six recipients are as follows: Alexus Anderson (top left), junior pursuing at Georgia State University. She will receive $500. Kayla Tipton (top middle), junior at Trinity College. She will receive $500. Amina Anshasi (top right), junior at The University of San Francisco. She will receive $500. Autumn Thompson (bottom left), graduate student at The University of Texas at Austin. She will receive $500. Ami Spencer (bottom middle), junior at Northern Arizona University. She will receive $500. Lessie Willborn (bottom right), junior at Cottey College. She will receive $250. Thank you so much to DIWC’s Board of Directors, DIWC’s Application Review Committee, family and friends and everyone who helped share this year’s scholarship opportunity. A special thank you to our sponsors and donors this application cycle, Mr. William Gertz, Chairman at The American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS)/ The Cyril Taylor Charitable Foundation, Brandon A. McCullough’s family and friends, and Ms. Alyssa Nota, CEO and President at University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC).

Diverse International Women of Color, Inc. is thrilled to announce the winners of The Diverse International Women of Color Summer 2024 Study Abroad Scholarship. Each recipient will receive $500 to help with their spring study abroad program costs. This scholarship aims to empower and support women of color by providing them with opportunities to broaden their horizons through international education. The eight recipients of the 2024 Summer Study Abroad Scholarship are as follows: Brooklyn Johnson, (1st row, 1st picture), rising senior at Arizona State University. Lucy Wu, (1st row, 2nd picture), rising senior at The University of Portland. Antoniah Etienne, (1st row, 3rd picture), rising senior at Florida State University. Ariel Ford, (1st row, 4th picture), rising senior at The University of Georgia. Isabella Johnson, (2nd row, 1st picture), rising junior at The University of Louisville. Sophia Williams, (2nd row, 2nd picture), rising senior at The University of Florida. Christianna McAfee, (2nd row, 3rd picture), rising senior at The University of Texas at Austin. Lourdes Benencia Courreges, (2nd row, 4th picture), rising senior at The University of Chicago. We extend our gratitude to the DIWC Board of Directors, Application Review Committee, family, friends, colleges, universities, and all who helped promote the scholarship. A special thanks to Mr. William Gertz at the American Institute For Foreign Study (AIFS), Inc., and The Cyril Taylor Charitable Foundation for their generous sponsorship. Inspired by her transformative study abroad experience in Hong Kong in 2012, our President and Founder, Alhia D. Harris, established this scholarship to empower women of color. Her vision is to break down barriers and provide life-changing international opportunities, ensuring more women of color can benefit from the enriching experience of studying abroad. Stay tuned for more posts highlighting each recipient’s study abroad plans and ambitions. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the success of this program. We are proud of our recipients and look forward to the impact they will make on the world. 

Diverse International Women of Color, Inc. is beyond thrilled to announce the recipients of our Fall 2024 Study Abroad Scholarship. These extraordinary women will be awarded scholarships of either $500 or $250 to help support their study abroad programs this fall. Our scholarship exists to empower women of color by providing opportunities that broaden their horizons and open doors to life-changing international experiences. It is with immense pride and joy that we introduce the six remarkable recipients of the Fall 2024 Study Abroad Scholarship: Vy Duong (1st row, 1st picture), a rising junior at Trinity College, will receive $500. Isabella Gomez (1st row, 2nd picture), a rising junior at Washington University, will receive $500. Divya Naraine (1st row, 3rd picture), a rising junior at Fordham University, will receive $500. Hannah-Mia Hinds (2nd row, 1st picture), a rising junior at Emerson College, will receive $500. Chelsea Santos (2nd row, 2nd picture), a rising junior at the University of San Francisco, will receive $500. Michelle Banor (2nd row, 3rd picture), a rising junior at the University of Arizona, will receive $250. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who made this scholarship possible. Special thanks to the DIWC Board, Application Review Committee, family, friends, colleges, universities, Mr. William Gertz at AIFS, Inc. and The Cyril Taylor Charitable Foundation, and Ms. Mary Ann Mill for their generous support. This scholarship is deeply personal to our President and Founder, Alhia D. Harris, inspired by her transformative study abroad experience in Hong Kong in 2012. Alhia’s vision is to break down barriers and provide women of color with life-changing international opportunities. As we celebrate our recipients, we are filled with hope for the future. These young women are about to embark on journeys that will enrich their lives and contribute to the global community. Thank you for being part of this journey. We are proud of our recipients and excited for the amazing experiences ahead!

Diverse International Women of Color, Inc. is beyond thrilled to announce the recipients of our Spring 2025 Study Abroad Scholarship. These extraordinary women will be awarded scholarships of $500 to help support their study abroad programs this spring. Our scholarship exists to empower women of color by providing opportunities that broaden their horizons and open doors to life-changing international experiences. It is with immense pride and joy that we introduce the five remarkable recipients of the Spring 2025 Study Abroad Scholarship: Kerrigan Ferland (1st row, 1st picture), a junior at Washington University, will receive $500. Rose DuPont (1st row, 2nd picture), a junior at Saint Mary’s College of California, will receive $500. Raegyn Oliver (2nd row, 1st picture), a senior at Lipscomb University, will receive $500. Daniela Gerardi (2nd row, 2nd picture), a junior at American University, will receive $500. Sommer Nguyen (2nd row, 3rd picture), a junior at Louisiana State University, will receive $500. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who made this scholarship possible. Special thanks to the DIWC Board of Directors, DIWC Application Review Committee, family, friends, colleges, universities, Mr. William Gertz at AIFS, Inc. and The Cyril Taylor Charitable Foundation for their generous support. This scholarship is deeply personal to our President and Founder, Alhia D. Harris, inspired by her transformative study abroad experience in Hong Kong in 2012. Alhia’s vision is to break down barriers and provide women of color with life-changing international opportunities. As we celebrate our recipients, we are filled with hope for the future. These young women are about to embark on journeys that will enrich their lives and contribute to the global community. In the next five post, you will get to learn more about each recipient. Thank you for being part of this journey. We are proud of our recipients and excited for the amazing experiences ahead!

Diverse International Women of Color, Inc. is proud to announce our Summer 2025 Study Abroad Scholarship Recipients. Recipients will receive $500 from us to help support their summer study abroad program costs. We are honored to introduce our 11 recipients: Ayden Brown, Senior at Loyola Marymount University; Tyra Dennis, Rising Senior at North Carolina A&T State University; Catherine Oyuela, Rising Junior at Loyola University New Orleans; Nazia Kazi, Graduate Student at George Washington University; Olga Romero Zelaya, Rising Junior at University of North Carolina Wilmington; Re’Onna Vines, Senior at North Carolina A&T State University; Arica Haywood, Rising Junior at Tulane University; Caitlin Shamiya, Senior at University of Nevada, Reno; Rosalinda Esther, Junior at Florida Atlantic University; Malinda Attia, Rising Junior at University of Houston; and Leila Dawson, Senior at University of Kentucky. These scholars have demonstrated academic excellence, leadership, and a deep passion for global engagement, and we are honored to support them on this transformative journey.

Founded by Alhia D. Harris, DIWC was inspired by her own 2012 study abroad experience in Hong Kong, and continues to exist to ensure more women of color are able to access and experience the life-changing impact of global education. We extend our deepest gratitude to our Board of Directors, Application Review Committee, and broader community whose continued support makes this work possible.

A special thank you to our generous sponsors this cycle: The Cyril Taylor Charitable Foundation, represented by Mr. William Gertz, Chairman of The American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS), and Ms. Alyssa Nota at the University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC), for their ongoing partnership and commitment to our scholars.

Diverse International Women of Color, Inc. is proud to announce our Fall 2025 Study Abroad Scholarship Recipients. Each recipient will receive $500 from DIWC to help support their fall study abroad program costs. We are excited to introduce our newest six recipients: Teri’Ana Taylor, Senior at Kennesaw State University; Britney Sayegh, Rising Senior at Brandeis University; Gabrielle Mitchell-Bonds, Rising Junior at Harvard University; Maris Leong, Sophomore at the University of California, Irvine; Grace Toscano, Rising Senior at Brandeis University; and Marleshka Montanez Sanchez, Senior at the University of Vermont. These scholars have exemplified academic excellence, leadership, and a profound passion for global engagement, and we are proud and honored to support them as they embark on this transformative journey.

Founded by Alhia D. Harris, DIWC was inspired by her 2012 study abroad experience in Hong Kong. The mission of DIWC is to create opportunities for more women of color to experience the life-changing impact of global education, empowering them to broaden their horizons, build cross-cultural connections, and grow into confident, world-ready leaders. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our Board of Directors, Application Review Committee, and community supporters, whose dedication and guidance make scholarships like these possible. A very special thank you goes to our generous sponsor this cycle, The Cyril Taylor Charitable Foundation, represented by Mr. William Gertz, Chairman of the American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS), whose partnership directly empowers our scholars to pursue their global dreams.

We are incredibly proud of this new cohort and look forward to seeing the ways they will contribute to their communities, build bridges across cultures, and grow into leaders on a global stage. The journey for these talented young women is just beginning, and we are honored to play a small part in supporting their dreams. Thank you for being part of this movement—together, we are creating a world where women of color can experience the transformative power of study abroad.

Diverse International Women of Color, Inc. is proud to announce our Spring 2026 Study Abroad Scholarship Recipients. Each recipient will receive $500 from DIWC to help support their Spring study abroad program costs. We are excited to introduce our newest six recipients: Alexandria Redd, Junior at the College of Charleston; Ajilong Muyodi, Sophomore at Augustana College; Anika Cousins, Junior at Vassar College; Giselle Flores Ceja, Junior at the University of Arizona; Nicolette Bennett, Junior at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor; and Lesly Hernandez, Junior at Macalester College. These scholars have exemplified academic excellence, leadership, and a profound passion for global engagement, and we are proud and honored to support them as they embark on this transformative journey.

Founded by Alhia D. Harris, DIWC was inspired by her own 2012 study abroad experience in Hong Kong. The mission of DIWC is to create opportunities for more women of color to experience the life-changing impact of global education, empowering them to broaden their horizons, build cross-cultural connections, and grow into confident, world-ready leaders. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our Board of Directors, Application Review Committee, and community supporters, whose dedication and guidance make scholarships like these possible. A special thank you goes to our generous sponsors this cycle: The Cyril Taylor Charitable Foundation, represented by Mr. William Gertz, Chairman of the American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS), and Ms. Alyssa Nota at the University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC), whose continued partnership means the world to us and to our scholars.

We are so proud of this new cohort and cannot wait to see the ways they will contribute to their communities, build bridges across cultures, and grow into leaders on a global stage. The journey for these talented young women is just beginning, and we are honored to play a small part in supporting their dreams. Thank you everyone for being part of this movement. Together, we are creating a world where women of color can experience the transformative power of study abroad.