McGlothlin Awards open world and opportunities for Radford students
Seven Radford students have been awarded McGlothlin Student Travel Grants for 2018 and are eager for unique destinations and experiences.
Each of the 2018 recipients earned awards of between $1,250 and $1,500 that are applied toward their individual foreign study experiences. Funding for the McGlothlin Travel Grant program is supported by the McGlothlin Endowment, created by alumna Sally Ann Cook McGlothlin's family for the advancement of international education at Radford University.
The 2018 McGlothlin Student Travel Grant recipients and their destinations are:
- Christopher Hill, Ritsumeikan University, Japan
- Lauren Lightcap, Melbourne, Australia – Monash University
- Matthew Palamara, Melbourne, Australia – Monash University
- Marta Paulson, Kassel University, Germany
- Sarahbeth Roberts, University of Glasgow, Scotland
- Wyatt Toehlke, Ukraine/Russia
- Kelly Whittacker, Belize
Lauren Lightcap, a sophomore recreation, parks and tourism major from Poolesville, Maryland will be one of the first students to study at Radford’s new international partner, Monash University in Melbourne, Australia.
“I’m most excited about exploring Australia’s outdoor recreational activities. Australia has scenery and wildlife like no other and I hope to see as much as it as I can,” said Lightcap, who will be down under through June. “The biggest value of an international experience to me will be being able to fully immerse myself into another country’s culture for an extended period of time. The trip is an amazing opportunity.”
Kelly Whittaker, a third year graduate student in Radford’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program, will travel to the Toledo District of Belize for four weeks this spring as part of an annual trip by Waldron College of Health and Human Services’ students to provide health care and education to local residents.
“I am excited to work with students and clinicians of other healthcare professions to provide medical services to Belizean citizens,” said the Cuyahoga Fall, Ohio-native about her first trip off the North American continent.
“I look forward to learning about new cultures while improving my resourcefulness and interprofessional communication, “ said Whittacker. “Clinical skills that I will be learning in Belize are similar to those covered in a stateside rotation. However I think I will experience and overcome challenges while developing these skills abroad and make them more memorable and valuable.”
Sarahbeth Roberts, a sophomore with a double major in theatre and psychology and minors in biology and chemistry from Blacksburg, will study for a semester at Scotland’s University of Glasgow.
“I think learning in another culture will be an amazing . . . to learn European history in Europe and study psychology while also learning an entire people’s culture will be priceless and expand my perspective,” Roberts said.
Marta Paulson is an anthropology and foreign languages major from Draper, Virginia, who is also looking to widen her perspective.
“I think that is important today. My goal is to become fluent in German so I plan on speaking it as much as I can,” said Paulson for whom a semester abroad will be a second international experience. “It goes to gaining new insights of the world and taking the chance to step out of my comfort zone and try new things.”