Thursday, March 1, 2007
The largest-ever study abroad scholarship donation could help drastically increase the number of graduates who studied abroad at the University of Kansas.
The donation could potentially raise the number of students who have studied abroad from one-in-four to one-in-two within the next five years.
Larry D. Horner and his wife, Donna Manning Horner, endowed half a million dollars to the University to be invested towards study abroad scholarships.
Larry D. Horner
Susan Gronbeck-Tedesco, director of the Office of Study Abroad, said the investment’s interest would go toward study abroad scholarships, helping both graduate and undergraduate students study abroad for years to come.
The money could help increase study abroad participation and could raise the maximum allowed study abroad scholarship from $1,500 to $2,000 for a number of students, Gronbeck-Tedesco said.
She said both the cost and time commitment involved with study abroad deterred many students from even applying for the program.
“There’s a myth in higher education that if you study abroad, you’ll have to stay longer,” she said. “That’s simply not true.”
Steven Groene, Salina sophomore, applied for a scholarship through the Office of Study Abroad this week. Groene plans to study in Dakar, Senegal next semester. He said the cost of study abroad was a slight concern at first because of slightly higher tuition and excluded costs, such as airfare and a passport.
“It was amazing how many things I hadn’t initially budgeted for, like health insurance,” he said. “However, I went back to my parents and we renegotiated their and my own contributions and found a way to make it work.”
Currently, the Office of Study Abroad gives out $60,000 per year in scholarships, Gronbeck-Tedesco said. The Horners’ donation will increase this amount to $90,000.
pullquote
There’s a myth in higher education that if you study abroad, you’ll have to stay longer.
- Susan Gronbeck-Tedesco, director of the Office of Study Abroad
Gronbeck-Tedesco said most study abroad donations, which typically range from $25 to $1,000, come from alumni who have studied overseas.
Melissa Birch, associate professor and director of the Center for International Business Education and Research for the School of Business, said studying abroad helped ready business graduates to do business on an international level.
“Companies will have more reasons to hire these students,” she said.
Horner, a 1956 University graduate, played football at the University and majored in accounting. After graduation, he worked as the chief executive officer for an international auditing, tax and advisory service. He also served on the board of directors for ConocoPhillips.
Birch said he came to the University in 2004 as an international executive in residence. He spoke with students about escalating gas prices and the importance of China as a market for US business.
“It’s a very valuable thing for students to have somebody who can give you some perspective,” Birch said.
The Horners, who live in Mexico most of the year and travel often, could not be reached for comment.
Kansan staff writer Brian Lewis-Jones can be contacted at bljones@kansan.com.
— Edited by Mark Vierthaler
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