DePauw Student Named New Zealand Scholarship Winner

By Elana Goodwin on November 3, 2016

One lucky student is headed to New Zealand on a $15,000 full-tuition scholarship thanks to Go Overseas and Education New Zealand, according to a recent press release. The winner of the third annual scholarship is biochemistry major and future doctor Alicia Cotsoradis, who is currently a junior at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana.

Photo Credit: Pixabay.com

With the scholarship, she’ll be able to study abroad and get a wider education, in addition to making friendships and having new experiences. Besides the $15,000 scholarship, STA Travel will sponsor the student’s round-trip flight, so Cotsoradis can head to New Zealand for free.

In her application, Cotsoradis wrote that she “chose to study abroad in order to eventually make [her] a better doctor.”

“My patients will have such a large array of backgrounds, and during this semester abroad I want to work to know cultures other than my own so I can better my empathy skills and set myself up for success,” she said.

Costoradis also explained why she was hoping specifically to study abroad in New Zealand.

“Specifically, I chose New Zealand because it represents a culture of imagination and an appreciation for all things beautiful. Between the incredible scenery, the love for adventure, and a culture based on long standing traditions, New Zealand holds all the elements necessary for me to explore myself and merge my science background with more hands-on skills that will help me later in life.”

After picking a winner, representatives from Go Overseas and Education New Zealand traveled to DePauw University in Greencastle to deliver the news to Cotsoradis in person.

North America Field Director for Education New Zealand Alanna Dick said the following after meeting Alicia.

“After meeting Alicia and her family and friends at the DePauw campus, I am even more excited for Alicia to start her semester in New Zealand. Alicia’s drive to become a better doctor by experiencing New Zealand culture and meeting people from diverse backgrounds is inspiring and we are excited to be able to support her dream and follow her on this journey.”

The two winners from previous years have also had amazing experiences during their time in New Zealand. The first winner of the scholarship, in 2014, was Emma Faucher of Castleton University in Vermont. Last year’s winner, Colorado native Colin Murchison of the University of Arkansas has prolonged his stay and founded a blog called Adaptography with the purpose of promoting cultural, financial and environmental sustainability through a multitude of forms of artwork including photography, videography and the written word.

Murchison credits the launching of his website to his semester spent in New Zealand, thanks to the scholarship.

“During my semester here, a passion and drive was lit inside me, and I knew I needed to do whatever I could to promote and educate others on environmental, cultural, and financial sustainability,” Murchison said. “To do so, I went through much self-evaluation and determined a way to best utilize my skill sets, ultimately creating Adaptography.com.”

Ranked in the top 10 countries in the world for its higher education and training, and known for its safety, diversity, and beauty, New Zealand is a great choice for students looking to study abroad.

Unlike other essays and scholarships, the application for the New Zealand scholarship is paperless and really intended to start getting students excited about New Zealand so that even if students don’t win, they’ll still be interested in and determined to study abroad. In the application, students can pick whether they’d like to apply for spring, summer or fall terms. They can also choose up to three programs, either directly through a university or a study abroad program provider.

The last step is to submit a well-written essay and New Zealand-themed photo. If you’re interested in studying abroad and want to apply, the application for next year’s scholarship opens in late August on the GoOverseas.com website.

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