Student Highlights

Be sure to also check out the Student Blog to read firsthand travel experiences from other ISU CALS students.

Blake Van Der Kamp

Blake Van Der Kamp

This study abroad opportunity opened my eyes to the food insecurity problems people are facing around the world. Dr. Burras made the experiences practical and more digestible than anything I could have learned in a classroom setting.

Major: Agriculture and Life Sciences Education, International Agriculture, Agronomy, Public Relations and Leadership Studies
Experience: Soils, Crops and Water of Costa Rica
Amber Friedrichsen

Amber Friedrichsen

I’m glad Costa Rica was my first study abroad trip at Iowa State because it helped me get more excited about studying agronomy when I returned to campus. With that said, I think after having one trip under my belt I am excited to explore different programs and branch out a little more when considering my next study abroad experience.

Major: Agricultural and Life Sciences Education & Agronomy
Experience: Soils, Crops and Water of Costa Rica

Nathan Behrends

Studying abroad is a great way to compare and contrast different perspectives while gaining a greater appreciation for the world.

Major: Agricultural Studies
Experience: Soils, Crops, and Water of Costa Rica

Andrea Schlieckau

I absolutely would recommend studying abroad to any fellow student, regardless of major or college they are a part of. The opportunity to travel like you can during a study abroad trip is really a once-in-a-lifetime thing and it is something I think everyone should experience at least once.

Major: Agricultural Business
Experience: American Farm School, Perrotis College in Thessaloniki, Greece
Jack Hubble

Jack Hubble

You get out of studying abroad what you put into it, if you are passionate about traveling and want to experience new cultures or hear new perspectives, then you are at the right place!

Major: Agricultural Business, Economics and International Agricultural
Experience: Culture and Economic Diversification in the United Arab Emirates & American Farm School - Perrotis College, Greece

Kiara Roberts

I was able to travel outside of the country for the first time through this study abroad experience. I loved everything about the culture of Paris. This trip was a great first experience for being out of the country. I was able to see both the city atmosphere and countryside. I was able to see another culture first hand and that is important in my eyes. Being able to connect with people from other countries or different cultures will help me in my future career.

Major: Food Science and Human Nutrition
Experience: Cathedrals, Castles, Culture and Cuisine-sustainable, Safe & Nutritious Food in France

Kate Kilmer

Studying abroad was an amazing experience, and I got to learn more about an ecosystem with wild animals I was unfamiliar with. I got to meet new people and learn about the culture of the Maori people. I got to visit various locations around the North Island, and there is even more I have yet to see on the South Island. Which just means I will have to go back sometime, to see the South Island and NZ yet again. A fantastic place, an awesome experience, and fascinating wildlife. An amazing study abroad all in all.

Major: Animal Ecology
Experience: New Zealand: Semester at Massey University

Grace Jakes

I never anticipated studying abroad when I first came to Iowa State. I didn’t think that I could afford it, and I wasn’t sure how it would fit in with my career goals and my academic path.

Major: Animal Science & Global Resource Systems
Experience: Semester Along the Nile: Learning in Uganda

Hannah Heit

Studying abroad in Uganda allowed me to gain real world experience working with an NGO. This experience has confirmed my career aspirations and even allowed me to explore them further.

Major: Animal Science
Experience: Uganda

Kaleb Baber

Once I came to Iowa State I realized how affordable studying abroad is and how we have such great opportunities to travel. Various scholarships were also offered, so it was kind of a no-brainer for me to go,

Major: Agronomy
Experience: Soils, Crops and Water of Costa Rica, A Semester in Australia - University of Tasmania

Jack Pieper

My favorite part of being abroad is having the opportunity to meet and learn from people from around the world. Every day I'm able to learn something new from the people I've met and I'm thankful for that.

Major: Agronomy and Global Resource Systems
Experience: Agriculture, Food and Natural Resource Systems of Brazil & Wageningen University (Netherlands)

Elizabeth Oys

I now have a new perspective and also a new-found sense of independence in regards to international travel.

Major: Agronomy
Experience: American Farm School, Perrotis College in Thessaloniki, Greece

Riley Wilgenbusch

My favorite part of being abroad was getting to apply the things I’d been learning in classrooms to programs that are making real change in the world.

Major: Agronomy & Global Resource Systems
Experience: Dean's Global Agriculture and Food Leadership Program: Rome & Uganda

Travis Lichtensteiger

Going abroad has shown me that there are always other ways to get things accomplished and just because I am used to seeing it done one way, that does not mean that it is always the best way.

Major: Agronomy
Experience: Soils, Crops and Water of Costa Rica & Agricultural Systems of New Zealand

Austin Day

I chose to study in New Zealand because I wished to learn about alternate forms of agricultural production and hoped to find methods that could improve our own.

Major: Agronomy
Experience: A Semester in New Zealand - Massey University

Tiffany Poen

Even though the programs are suggested for sophomores and up, I was lucky enough to be accepted as a freshman, and it was the best experience I’ve had!

Major: Agricultural Business and International Agriculture
Experience: United Arab Emirates and Exploring the Agri-Culture of Belize

Rachel Crowley

While abroad, I was able to make worldwide connections that have allowed me to broaden my horizons in my field of study.

Major: Food Science & Human Nutrition
Experience: France
amanda gorzney

Amanda Gorzney

Be open to new experiences and activities. Not everyone comes from the same background as you and you need to respect that.

Major: Global Resource Systems & Agricultural Communications
Experience: U.S. Virgin Islands
Cooper poses with friends in front of a beautiful lake vista.

Cooper McDermott

Studying abroad changes your mindset, opening your eyes and mind to new opportunities that you didn’t know were even possible.

Major: Agricultural Business
Experience: Edinburgh and London
Ross standing before a beautiful lake vista with mountains in the background.

Ross Cady

The scholarships available through the college and CALS Study Abroad Office demonstrate how much value the college sees in helping students become global citizens through study abroad.

Major: Agricultural Business
Experience: Brexit: Edinburgh and London

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