New Verrazano Study Abroad Scholarship - Coming Soon!

If you've been thinking about studying abroad, here's another exciting reason to start moving forward on those plans in 2015!  The Center for International Service and The Verrazano School Honors Program have partnered on a new scholarship initiative for Verrazano students.  Starting in Fall 2015, all students in good standing with The Verrazano School Honors Program and who participate in CSI-sponsored study abroad programs will automatically be eligible to receive a Verrazano Honors Study Abroad Scholarship to help defray the cost of participating in a study abroad program!  

Verrazano Honors Study Abroad Scholarships will first be allocated for students who apply during Fall 2015 for Winter or Spring 2016 programs. Verrazano students who participate in summer or winter CSI-sponsored study abroad programs will receive $500, and students who participate in CSI-sponsored semester-long programs will receive $1000.  This includes CSI faculty-led programs, CSI programs, and CSI Exchange Ambassador Programs.

Our goal is to increase the number of Verrazano graduates who participate in a study abroad experience.  Studying abroad helps you explore your academic interests, develop professional goals, strengthen communication and problem-solving abilities, interact with people from different cultures, improve your language skills, experience personal growth, and gain new perspective.  It can, and probably will, change your life.  Get out there and explore the world!

Center for International Service and Verrazano staff members

Eligibility Criteria:

In order to receive the Verrazano Honors Study Abroad Scholarship, Verrazano students must:

·       Be in good standing with The Verrazano School Honors Program.

·       Have been a member of The Verrazano School Honors Program for at least two semesters.

·       Complete their yearly VELA and community service requirements before participating in the study abroad program.

·       Apply for the CSI-sponsored study abroad program by the posted application deadline.

·       Notify The Verrazano School Honors Program of their application for a CSI-sponsored study abroad program.

FAQs:

How can I learn more about study abroad options?

CSI offers many wonderful study abroad opportunities for students.  To learn more, visit the Center for International Service website, attend a study abroad info session, attend a study abroad VELA, read about student experiences on the Verrazano Voyager and Dolphins Across the Seven Seas, or go to study abroad advising hours in 2A-206.  You can never start the planning process too early!

How do I know if the program I plan to apply for is a CSI-sponsored program?

You can first check the Center for International Service website to see the list of study abroad opportunities offered directly through CSI.  If you’re still not sure, contact the Verrazano office (718-982-4171) or a study abroad advisor in the Center for International Service (718-982-2100) to confirm the program’s eligibility for the scholarship.

How do I know if I’m eligible to receive the Verrazano Honors Study Abroad Scholarship?

Eligibility requirements are listed above.  However, if you’d like to confirm your good standing in The Verrazano School Honors Program and be sure that your VELA and community service requirements have been completed before participating, you can check with the Verrazano office (718-982-4171).

How will I know that I’ve been approved to receive the Verrazano Honors Study Abroad Scholarship?

As long as you’re in good standing, you’ll be approved!  Your study abroad program bill will be credited either $500 for winter/summer programs or $1000 for semester-long programs.

Can I receive the Verrazano Honors Study Abroad Scholarship more than one time?  

No, students can only receive this scholarship one time.  However, you’re encouraged to study abroad again if you’re bitten by the travel bug!

Bon Voyage! Verrazano Student Heads To France For Fall Semester

Veronica LaManna, a member of the Verrazano Class of 2016 studying International Business with a minor in French, will be spending the Fall 2014 semester in Nice, France.  Veronica received a Verrazano Study Abroad Scholarship to help support her study abroad endeavor, and she will be sharing her experiences on the Voyager over the coming months.  Read below for her first blog post.

Bonjour! I will be studying in Nice, France during the Fall 2014 semester. Before I came to the College of Staten Island, I knew that my ultimate dream was to travel the world.  Like most college students, choosing a major was very difficult for me.  I knew that I wanted to incorporate my dream of traveling with my area of study. Keeping traveling in mind, I chose to major in business with an international concentration and to minor in French. During my freshman year, a representative from the Center for International Service at the College of Staten Island gave us information about some study abroad programs that were offered.  I knew right away that before I graduated I wanted to study abroad.  Although I was anxious to study abroad, I decided to wait until my junior year of college so I would be able to have more knowledge of the French language.  I also found out that I could potentially receive a scholarship from The Verrazano School that would help with the cost of studying abroad.

I went to the Center for International Service and gathered some more information about studying abroad. I knew that I definitely wanted to study in France because I have taken French classes for seven years and have always loved French culture. The representative from the Center helped me select a program that would fit my field of study and fit my budget.  After a lot of thinking I decided to apply for the CSI Ambassador Exchange Program at IPAG Business School in both Paris and Nice.  This program was perfect for me because it was being offered to only students who are business majors. The students who are accepted pay the College of Staten Island tuition, which is very affordable, along with room and board. Shortly after applying to the program, I received not only an acceptance letter for the program, but also one from the Verrazano School informing me that I had received a scholarship.

I decided to study at the IPAG Business School campus in Nice since I have already been to Paris. Nice is a beautiful city in the Côte d’Azur region located in the South of France. It is the second most popular city to visit in France right after Paris.  The university I will be studying at is only a fifteen-minute walk from the Mediterranean Sea. I will be living in an off campus apartment with another student from the College of Staten Island, and the apartment is located very close to the school. Nice is also situated between Italy and Spain, which are very easy to travel to. IPAG stands for Institut de Préparation à l’Adminstration Générale - that translates into the Institute for General Administration Preparation.  The University is French but most of the student body is made up of Erasmus or exchange students.  My classes will be taught in English, but I will be taking a French class in a level that is not offered at CSI. I will be taking business courses as well, which will give me insight on the economy from another country’s perspective.  I know that university professors in Europe have a very different style of teaching, so I am anxious about being in a different learning environment.  Although I am nervous, this will be a good experience to prepare me for my future career in international business. 

During these final weeks before I leave for France, I am both excited and nervous.  I am excited because this is an opportunity that I have dreamt of for years and it is finally becoming reality.  I am also nervous because I have never been away from my family and friends for so long.  I have also been preparing for my stay by applying for my student visa, looking for a place to stay, and searching for a flight to book.  Through my study abroad experience, I hope to become more proficient in the French language, understand the culture of France and of other countries, learn more about the global economy, and make lasting memories!

 

New Verrazano Students On Campus

The start of a new academic year brings new faces to campus and to the Verrazano Honors Program.  Over 100 new students, including freshmen as well as internal and external transfer students, were welcomed to the program over the summer.

The Verrazano Transfer Orientation was held on the first Thursday of the semester, and it offered the opportunity for students new to the program to meet Professor Charles Liu, the Verrazano Director, and get acclimated to the opportunities and responsibilities associated with being a Verrazano student.  Verrazano upperclassmen greeted the new students and shared their experiences and advice, and students participated in activities that helped them connect with one another.  Dr. Stephen Ferst, the new Executive Director of the Center for International Service, encouraged students to make study abroad a reality and offered the support of the Center for International Service as students make plans to incorporate an academic international experience into their course of study.  It was a great afternoon, and we look forward to working with these new students over the next few years.

New students in the Verrazano Classes of 2015 and 2016.

Professor Charles Liu addressing new Verrazano students in August.

 

In addition, the Verrazano Freshman Orientation was held at the end of June.  The day included greetings from college administrators, Verrazano student speakers, introductions to the Career and Scholarship Center and the Center for International Service, and an introduction to various resources available on campus.  We're thrilled that over half of the incoming class has expressed an interest in study abroad!  The highlight of the Verrazano Freshman Orientation was the teambuilding session run by Project U.S.E. of New Jersey.  Facilitators guided freshmen through challenging and engaging activities and debriefed with the students about how to apply what they learned as they navigate the next four years.  We're pleased to welcome this new freshman class to The Verrazano School Honors Program and we wish them a successful first semester!

Verrazano Class of 2017

Verrazano Volunteers: Vincent DeSouza, Alex Hsu, and Christine Huynh

 

Orientation Leaders

The CSI shuttle bus, featuring Professor Charles Liu - the Verrazano Director!