Student Stories

Student wearing medical scrubs posing for a picture outside of a veterinary clinic in Costa Rica.

Reynnah Ellenz

I was helping a community by giving them free veterinary care for their animals which has helped me realize how fortunate I am and made me realize my love giving back to those who can't afford veterinary care for the animals they call family.

Major: Animal Science Pre-Vet, Biology Minor
Experience: Vida Volunteer Veterinary Program
Scholarship Award: Shelley Taylor Study Abroad Student Support Fund and Study Abroad Endowed Scholarship
Student standing in a street in the Netherlands, posing for a picture.

Saumya Balaji

Living abroad is not without its challenges, but stepping out of your comfort zone and tackling these challenges head-on will allow you to grow and learn so much from your journey.

Major: Environmental Science and Global Resource Systems
Experience: Semester Exchange at Wageningen University, Netherlands
Scholarship Award: Study Abroad Endowed Scholarship
Emily with fellow students at a banana plantation

Emily Church

This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience where I learned a lot about dairy farming in a different country as well as another culture!

Major: Animal Science
Experience: Chitale Dairy Mini-Internship in India
Scholarship Award: Ensminger Scholarship
Irene Nielsen, Ghana

Irene Nielsen

Before coming to school, I was never interested in studying abroad, but the travel courses were the perfect length to travel to another country, while still maintaining the same level of involvement here at school.

Major: Dairy Science, Ag Communications, and International Agriculture
Experience: Animal and Dairy Science in the Netherlands, Tropical Agriculture and Culture in Ghana, and the Dean’s Global Agriculture and Food Leadership Program in Rome
Scholarship Award: Study Abroad Endowed Scholarship, William K. Deal Scholarship, Rome Scholarship
Chris in Ghana

Chris Meyer

Traveling to Ghana and learning about their agricultural practices was a fantastic opportunity for me to learn more agriculture abroad. 

Major: Agronomy, Agricultural Business, Concurrent MBA program
Experience: Tropical Agriculture and Culture in Ghana
Nathan at the Pantheon

Nathan Brumm

Studying abroad has impacted my perspective of agriculture and my future by seeing how people use different practices worldwide. 

Major: Agricultural Studies and International Agriculture 
Experience: Greece and Italy: Food, Culture, and Agriculture
Scholarship Award: Behrens Scholarship for Study Abroad
Emily in Greece!

Emily Plagman

Travel the world and get these once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

Major: Agricultural Studies and International Agriculture 
Experience: India: Crops, Culture, Food, and Traditions; Costa Rica: Soils, Crops, and Natural Resources of Costa Rica; and Italy and Greece: Food Culture, and Agriculture
Scholarship Award: Jay-Lin Jane-Topel and David G. Topel International Scholarship, CALS Study Abroad Scholarship, Dwight and Marilyn Conover Study Abroad Scholarship
Alaina in front of the Colloseum

Alaina Gebel

The opportunity to be a world traveler is at your fingertips. Take advantage of these once in a lifetime opportunities!  

Major: Agricultural and Life Sciences Education and International Agriculture with a minor in Agronomy
Experience: Soils, Crops, and Natural Resources of Costa Rica and Dean’s Global Agriculture and Food Leadership Program to Rome, Italy 
Scholarship Award: Behrens Scholarship for Study Abroad, Rome Scholarship
Maddi at Meteora Monasteries

Maddi Klemme

I chose to study abroad to experience life outside the United States. Having never left the United States prior to my travel course I was hoping to not only learn more about international agriculture but also more about myself.

Major: Agricultural Communication and International Agriculture
Experience: Greece and Italy: Food, Culture, and Agriculture
Scholarship Award: Wanda Cornelius College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Study Abroad Scholarship
Carly in Amsterdam

Carly Lawler

"I know it’s so nerve wracking to make the initial leap, but I promise, you will have zero regrets."

Major: Agricultural Systems Technology and International Agriculture
Experience: Semester Exchange at University College Dublin, Ireland
Scholarship Award: Wanda Cornelius College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Study Abroad Scholarship
Sage in Costa Rica

Sage Coffman

If you have any interest in studying abroad, talk to people who have participated in a program, reach out to the program director, check out the picture on the program website, or see if you can find photos/stories on the CALS Study Abroad Instagram!

Major: Environmental Science and Agronomy, Minor in Forestry with a Soil Science Certificate
Experience: Field to Fork on the Midwest Prairie; Natural History of Antarctica; Soils, Crops, and Natural Resources of Costa Rica
Scholarship Award: Louis M. Thompson Study Abroad Scholarship
Emma Stamp and friend in New Zealand

Emma Stamp

My advice for other students interested in studying abroad is to apply for as many scholarships as you can. It's way more fun to spend money in the country you are visiting and experience new things than stress about payments for the semester. School should not be the only reason you want to study abroad, so having a little extra money for experiences is definitely worth it.

Major: Agricultural Studies with an emphasis in animal science and agricultural business, and English
Experience: Massey University at Palmerston North, New Zealand
Scholarship Award: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Dean's Study Abroad Leadership Scholar
Megan Mueller

Megan Mueller

My study abroad experience was the highlight of my college experience, and I could not be more thankful to have had this experience!

Major: Microbiology, minor in Global Health
Experience: Lorenzo de' Medici Institute Florence, Italy
Scholarship Award: Jay and Julie Cornelius Jacobi Scholarship for Agricultural Study Award
Bella Maiwurm, Sierra Nevada in Chile

Bella Maiwurm

I have learned so much more about myself and what I want out of my career from studying abroad on these two trips than any other experience.

Major: Animal Ecology
Experience: Wales: Semester at Swansea Universty (Spring 2023) and Hiking Tour of Chile (Spring Break 2024)
Scholarship Award: College of Agriculture and Life Science Dean's Study Abroad Leadership Scholar (Wales program), William K Deal Scholarship (Chile program)
Ben Kujawa, New Zealand

Ben Kujawa

Do your research, but also, just take the leap. Studying abroad is going to seem a bit daunting, but as long as you know you want to do this, you will be fine.

Major: Forestry, Minor in Animal Ecology
Experience: University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand
Scholarship Award: College of Agriculture and Life Science Dean's Study Abroad Leadership Scholar
Lauren at Acropolis in Athens

Lauren Neuhaus

I would highly recommend to anyone thinking about studying abroad to do it. I found it so enriching and structured with a perfect balance of free time and scheduled activities. It was such a interactive way to travel and I gained so many valuable skills and experiences along the way.

Major: Horticulture
Experience: American Farm School, Perrotis College, Greece Summer Program
Scholarship Award: Jerry Benning Study Abroad Fund
Anesley Middlekauff

Anesley Middlekauff

Students interested in studying abroad should go for it! Make sure you understand the purpose of the trip and aren't simply going because it sounds fun. Get to know your professors, they may help you with references and tidbits of knowledge down the line.

Major: Agricultural Business
Experience: Cathedrals, Castles, Culture and Cuisine-sustainable, Safe & Nutritious Food in France, UK Heritage Livestock, Agricultural Business and Trade in Australia
Scholarship Award: Behrens Scholarship for Study Abroad (France program), Jay and Julie Cornelius Jacobi Scholarship for Agricultural Study Abroad (UK Heritage and Australia program)

Hannah Even

“Reflecting on my experience, the American Farm School, Greece, semester-long program opened my eyes to the world differently. I came back more confident in myself!”

Major: Culinary Food Science
Experience: American Farm School, Perrotis College, Greece
Kate Breja

Kate Breja

Never be afraid to try something new or step outside of your comfort zone because you never know who you'll meet and the unforgettable memories you could make!

Major: Global Resource Systems
Experience: University College Dublin, Ireland
Scholarship Award: College of Agriculture and Life Science Dean's Study Abroad Leadership Scholar
Miranda Peters

Miranda Peters

These trips are the experience of a lifetime. The instructors put so much thought and effort into the specifics of the trip and the stops you’ll take. It’s the perfect mix of learning while traveling and enjoying a new place!

Major: Animal Science
Experience: UK Heritage Livestock
Scholarship Award: Wanda Cornelius College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Study Abroad Scholarship Endowment

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