Each year on NC State’s Day of Giving, colleges and units compete in pre-day, all-day and hourly challenges. The college or unit that receives the most gifts or completes a certain task within the hour or throughout the day wins extra funds from the university. The competition is friendly, but the impact is fierce.

Since 2019, the College of Sciences has received more than $76,000 in challenge funds. Dean Lewis Owen has allocated $30,000 of those winnings toward scholarships for five study abroad programs led by Sciences faculty.

This summer, the college will disburse a total of $6,000 to 10 students participating in a study abroad program on the Caribbean island of Bonaire. The students will study Bonaire’s ecological and geological processes and develop their scientific diving skills. 

Studying abroad is an enriching experience — one that equips students to navigate an increasingly interconnected world — and we’re committed to making it accessible to all students. Read what three of the scholarship recipients had to say about their upcoming immersive diving experience. 

“Participating in the Bonaire program will give me valuable hands-on experience in marine restoration, while also allowing me to inspire younger generations who may be interested in pursuing a similar career path.”
-Jessica Izaguirre, Graduate Student, M.S. Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

“This opportunity to be out in the field and work underwater is a completely new space for me. I am excited for what I can potentially learn from it and the skills I can take back home with me and put towards my career and goals.”
-Chayse Jones, Junior, B.S. Marine Sciences

“The Bonaire study abroad program will let me get a taste of what it’s like to do research in marine ecology, which is what I hope to do in the future.” 
-Navarina Vaza Razo, Junior, B.S. Marine Sciences