Experiential Learning Endowed Scholarship Expands Opportunities for Language and Culture Students

A year since its founding, the fund has raised $6,815 from nearly 50 donors and growing.

The School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (SLLC) is committed to expanding learning opportunities through immersive language and culture programs while reducing financial barriers for its students. In advancement of this goal, the Experiential Learning Endowed Scholarship in Languages, Literatures, and Cultures was founded in June 2024 thanks to the generosity of an anonymous retired faculty member who started the endowment with a five-year $50,000 pledge. The donor’s goal of inspiring a chain reaction of philanthropy has paid off; A little over a year later, the fund has raised an additional $6,815 from 49 donors including faculty, staff, alumni, friends and supporters of the school.

Many of these gifts were made during Giving Day—the university’s 24-hour fundraising event held annually in March. During Giving Day 2025, SLLC raised $3,365 toward the Experiential Learning Endowed Scholarship thanks to the generosity of 46 donors who made gifts ranging from $10 to $250.

Once fully endowed, the fund will generate approximately $2,000 annually for student scholarships to support undergraduates majoring or minoring in language or culture study. Scholarship priority will be given to students who are actively involved in immersive SLLC programs, including the Language House Living–Learning Program, where students develop fluency in a target language and cultural appreciation; the Language Partner Program, which pairs students with international peers for weekly one-on-one language and cultural exchanges; and SLLC-sponsored education abroad opportunities like Maryland-in-Nice, Gender as a Social Construct in Morocco and Maryland-in-Sevilla. Scholarship recipients will be selected by an appointed committee within SLLC.

SLLC has a strong record of experiential learning with over 3,000 Language House residents since 2002; 515 Language Partner Program participants since 2015; and 424 SLLC-sponsored education abroad program participants since 2015. With this new fund, SLLC looks forward to expanding these opportunities even further.

“This scholarship will open the door for more of our students to take part in the immersive programs that define SLLC, whether it’s living in the Language House, partnering with international peers or studying abroad,” said SLLC Director Mel Scullen. “The skills, perspectives and cultural understanding they will gain from this experiential learning will likely shape not only their academic journeys, but the rest of their lives.”

The fund must be fully endowed before scholarships can be awarded from the  interest generated. To help make this possible, please consider making a gift to the Experiential Learning Endowed Scholarship in Languages, Literatures, and Cultures Fund. The minimum gift amount is $10.