We are excited to announce the winner of the ISA Global Opportunity Scholarship! Congratulations to Zuri Vasquez Bedolla, a double major in Spanish and Business Administration with a minor in Entrepreneurship at the University of Utah. She will be studying abroad at Universidad Antonio de Nebrija in Madrid this fall.
Zuri shares that she’s passionate about people, entrepreneurship, fashion, yoga, nature, and her family. She hopes to develop her Spanish speaking skills while in Spain and to establish broader networks within business and for future projects after her time overseas.
We asked Zuri a few questions to learn more about her story and what she’s most excited to see in Madrid.
MEET ZURI
“I am always seeking ways to create positive change in my community. This spring, I participated in a case competition where I helped design and envision a co-working space for black and brown communities in Salt Lake City, Utah, to promote economic growth among these historically underserved communities.
During my time at the University of Utah, I also founded and served as the CEO of Fashion in Business, a club for students interested in exploring the many intersections of fashion like design, career development, and networking. Founded in the summer of 2020, as a quarantine project, we now have nearly 200 members and were recently named Student Organization of the year for the second consecutive year.”
What inspired you to pick Madrid for study abroad?
“Although Spanish is my native tongue, I have never lived in a Spanish speaking country. When choosing a program, studying abroad in a Spanish speaking country was a priority. I found the coursework offered at the Universidad Antonio de Nebrija the most fitting with my personal interests and capabilities. I also knew a larger city like Madrid would challenge me in other ways, such as learning to navigate a larger city, learning how to use European public transportation, and having access and exposure to Spain’s melting pot of culture.”
What are you most looking forward to in Spain?
“I very much look forward to the people I will meet and the connections I will make. I also look forward to learning more about the local culture and experiencing how others live in different ways. I am excited to speak Spanish outside the classroom, to explore the city, and eat tapas in the process.”
What does this scholarship mean to you?
“This scholarship truly means so much to my family and I. Financial barriers were a point of contention when delegating whether or not to study abroad. This scholarship means I can lift a financial burden from my parents’ shoulders as they are already balancing so much at this moment. I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to relieve some of this stress, while also taking part in this incredible opportunity. As a first-generation college student, attending university is already a privilege. This scholarship means I will come back to the states without worries of financial hardship or potential housing insecurity.”
ABOUT THE ISA GO SCHOLARSHIP
ISA awards one scholarship each year to a participating student for the full list price of the ISA program. The GO Full-Ride Scholarship can be used for an ISA program and covers the full program fee. There is not a separate application for this scholarship. In order to be considered for this scholarship, all applicants must apply and meet the eligibility requirements for one of the other ISA scholarships by the deadline. There will be one GO Full-Ride Scholarship awarded per year.