Mark and Myra Sorensen International Travel Scholarship

Overview

The Mark and Myra Sorensen International Travel Scholarship is designed to support students who will participate in study, internship, volunteer, or research programs abroad. The scholarship's goal is to fund a diverse array of students, regardless of field of study. The Global Engagement and Education Abroad (GEEA) team at the International Center manages the Sorensen Scholarship.

Awards will be made in the amount of at least $750 to cover expenses such as program fees, transportation, room and board, and/or local excursions made in connection with the project. Scholarship awards are contingent upon the availability of funds.

Eligibility Criteria

• U-M Ann Arbor student, regardless of citizenship, enrolled in a degree program
• Must be a rising sophomore or above
• Must in good academic standing
• Must be returning to campus for at least one semester prior to graduation
• Open to both undergraduate and graduate students
• Duration of international experience should be at least three weeks
• Applicants may be assessed on demonstrated financial need.
• Preference is given to students who will be traveling abroad for the first time.

Application Process for Spring/Summer 2026 Travel

The application will open on February 27, 2026 and will be available on M-Compass.

The online application requirements include:

• Short answer responses, roughly 100 words each, which should include the following:
  • Briefly describe the global experience for which you are seeking funding, including why you chose this opportunity and the goals of your proposed experience
  • How this global experience will benefit you personally, academically, and professionally
  • Previous travel abroad experience
  • How you plan to engage with your host community and will bring your experience back to U-M (or your home community) and share it with others
• A budget sheet for your internship/research/volunteer program
• Proof of acceptance into program: letter (or email) of invitation or acceptance into your program
• Unofficial Transcript

Application Deadline

Application Deadline for Spring/Summer 2026 Travel: April 1, 2026

Scholarship Expectations

• Recipients must comply with the University Travel Policy
• Recipients must meet with an advisor (professional staff or student peer advisor) on the International Center’s Global Engagement and Education Abroad team at least once prior to the start of the project for pre-departure preparation.
• In academic term following their experience abroad, recipients will be required to:
  • Meet with an International Center advisor
  • Write a brief reflective essay about their international experience & the impact it had on them
  • Express gratitude to the Sorensen Scholarship donor through a written thank-you note and attend potential donor/scholar celebration events.

Selection Process

A selection committee will review applications and make decisions to award the scholarship. Applicants may be assessed based on financial need.

Awardees' Reflections

2025

"As a fourth-generation Japanese-American living in Hawai’i, I was introduced to the Japanese language and culture from birth. However, these were all simply intangible stories due to my family’s gradual shift to American culture and customs as I grew up. With the Mark and Myra Sorensen International Travel Scholarship, I had the opportunity to study abroad at the Japanese Center of Michigan Universities in Hikone, Japan. This allowed me to immerse myself in Japanese culture and learn the conversational Japanese language I had lost over time. From the game nights, conversational tables, drama nights hosted by the institution to the summer festivals and countless yatai food tasting sprees, I was exposed to the customs, traditions, and Kansai-ben of the community within Hikone. Despite the record-breaking heat, during the breaks, I was able to travel to Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto to visit various shrines (Favorite: Fushimi Inari Taisha), indulge in the Japanese clothing stores and beauty products, explore the city/night life, and talk to different communities to learn various colloquial phrases. After I returned to Hawai’i, I attended the Yamamoto family reunion and was able to speak to the last first-generation family member in my family in Japanese. Now that I am back in Ann Arbor, I have connected back with my old Japanese friends from freshman year. The ability to converse in Japanese makes playing Mario Party with them so much easier now that I can understand the jokes and instructions. Overall, I was able to fulfill all my personal goals from this one-of-a-kind experience and it would not have been possible without the Mark and Myra Sorenson International Travel Scholarship." – Kaleokupa'A Yamamoto, LSA, Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology

"Thanks to the generosity of the Mark and Myra Sorensen International Travel Scholarship, I had the life changing opportunity to study abroad in Cape Town, South Africa. My summer was focused on exploring the intersections of global health, equity, and community resilience. I visited and volunteered with local NGOs such as Life Choices, where I observed mobile health clinics in action and learned about community driven approaches to addressing HIV, nutrition, and gender based violence. I was drawn to this program because of my passion for public health and my career goals of becoming a physician who bridges clinical care with systemic change. One of the highlights of my time in Cape Town was engaging with practitioners who showed how trust, cultural relevance, and collaboration are essential for effective healthcare delivery. Their innovative approaches to health education, such as using creative metaphors to explain HIV and immunity, demonstrated how public health can be accessible, empowering, and stigma reducing. Beyond academics, I found great meaning in the connections I made with community members. Whether through conversations with South African students or listening to health workers describe the challenges of sustaining services amid US foreign aid cuts, these interactions reminded me of the responsibilities we share. This was both humbling and motivating, as it underscored the ways that my own country’s policies shape health outcomes across oceans. The impact of this experience continues to grow in my life. Personally, it broadened my worldview and deepened my empathy for communities navigating systemic inequities. Professionally, it reinforced my desire to pursue global health work that pairs medical training with policy advocacy. Academically, it provided me with real world examples that connect directly to the concepts I’ve studied at Michigan. Since returning, I have continued to collaborate remotely with Life Choices, contributing to research briefs for their mobile clinics. Most importantly, I am committed to bringing these insights back to Ann Arbor. Whether through my leadership in student organizations, my public health research, or discussions in the classroom, I’ve been eager to share what I learned about international health and healthcare with my peers. This scholarship not only made my study abroad possible but also gave me experiences that will continue to shape my education and career for years to come. I am so grateful to the Mark and Myra Sorensen Scholarship for helping to make this a reality!" – Ryan Mirza, Public Health

2024

"This past semester, thanks to the generosity of the Mark & Myra Sorensen Scholarship, I had the incredible opportunity to study abroad at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. Studying abroad has always been a dream of mine, and this scholarship was the key to turning that dream into reality. During my time in Australia, I had the unique chance to travel to Vietnam and connect with relatives I had never met before. This was a deeply personal and enriching experience. Additionally, I visited New Zealand and was awe-struck by its stunning landmarks, including Roy’s Peak, Milford Sound, and Mount Cook. From an academic standpoint, I immersed myself in a diverse community that offered me new and unfamiliar perspectives. I embraced all the opportunities on campus, made friends from around the globe, and found a second home in Sydney. One of the highlights of my experience was the amazing sense of community. The warmth and friendliness of everyone I met left a lasting impression on me. Coming from the USA, where it’s easy to feel isolated from the rest of the world, I valued the chance to delve into Australia's rich history and culture. I was particularly struck by how international Australia is and how welcoming Australians are to visitors. It was refreshing to see how much Australians prioritize learning about and traveling to other countries, despite their geographic isolation. Without the support of the Mark & Myra Sorensen Scholarship, I would never have had the privilege to experience such profound personal growth and so many incredible adventures. Studying abroad had always been on my radar, but I was never sure I would be able to make it happen. This scholarship not only enhanced my educational experience but also offered me a unique, life-changing semester. I am profoundly grateful for this opportunity and honored to apply what I have learned to my life in Ann Arbor. I am eager to share my newfound knowledge and experiences with my community. My semester abroad in Sydney was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I will always cherish the memories and lessons I gained." – Emily Tran, LSA, Computer Science

"With the Mark and Myra Sorensen International Travel Scholarship, I was able to study abroad in Hong Kong and explore Asia! I got to learn from professors from across the world, and was pleasantly challenged by the course work at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. I came into the experience wanting to make new friends and learn more about Asian culture. I did just this, and loved enjoying local cuisine and visiting famous landmarks all while bonding with my peers from around the world. I was able to learn a bit of cantonese from locals and have engaging conversations, sharing where I’m from and learning more about how daily life in Hong Kong. During the breaks, I traveled with peers to nearby countries such as China and Japan where we got to explore all sorts of cuisine and interact with different communities. I was able to experience extreme colds in northern China to the extreme heat of southeast Asia. There were so many amazing cities with their own unique histories that I got to learn more about from local guides, museums, and research. I have stronger self independence and am able to adapt in new environments with self awareness. I also gained a broader perspective of the world and am more open to new ideas and concepts. These unforgettable memories and relationships will stay with me throughout my life and career, and I cannot be more grateful for this experience!" – Bianca Hiew, College of Engineering

"With the support of the Mark and Myra Sorensen scholarship, I had the incredible opportunity to study Arabic at a language center and live with a host family in the heart of the old city in Rabat, the capital of Morocco. As a Muslim Arab American studying art and design in college, I was super excited about immersing myself into Moroccan culture through a summer Arabic studies program. I was eager to level up my Arabic skills, which are very important for me to maintain as someone who values preservation of language and culture. Living in the old city and building beautiful relationships with locals was truly one of the highlights of my experience. The little interactions I had with shopkeepers and children, and the ability to quickly pick up the local dialect, were so precious to me. I felt a profound sense of comfort and excitement living in a Muslim country where I could freely and easily engage with the cultural and religious practices that are so meaningful to me. Being surrounded by the familiar sounds of the adhan (call to prayer) and participating in daily rituals with my host family made me feel incredibly at ease and connected to the environment around me. Also, as an Arab American who has never had the chance to visit my motherland Syria, Morocco felt like the closest I’ve ever felt to the feeling of being ‘back home’. Truly, there is nothing as priceless as experiencing such comfort and familiarity while being so far from home. My experience in Morocco also inspired my artistic endeavors as an art and design student. I’ve always valued traditional cultural craftsmanship, and being able to witness and experience Moroccan artisanship firsthand was incredibly impactful. The vibrant textiles, detailed tilework, and the dedication of the artisans have inspired me to incorporate these elements into my own work. Overall, my study abroad experience in Morocco, supported by the Mark and Myra Sorensen Scholarship, deepened my Arabic skills, immersed me in the culture, and inspired my artistic practice. I am deeply grateful for the support of the Mark and Myra Sorensen Scholarship, which made this unforgettable experience possible, and I look forward to continuing this journey of learning and artistic growth." – Razaan Killawi, Art & Design

2023

"With the support of the Mark and Myra Sorensen International Scholarship, I traveled abroad to Kumasi, Ghana for six weeks and participated in the Global Health Nursing Internship Program. My interest in this opportunity stemmed from my desire to explore a healthcare system different from the United States and learn about how these differences affect patient health while gaining more clinical experience. While being hosted by the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), I had the opportunity to enter the clinical setting and gain a glimpse into the Ghanaian healthcare system. I observed and participated in care at various clinical sites including two hospitals, rural community clinics, and a middle school. Additionally, I observed several home visits and aided in facilitating outreach clinics in the community. In these settings, I learned about the operations of the various hospitals and clinics, patient populations, the role and scope of practice of nurses in Ghana, and national public health and child welfare efforts. Alongside my clinical experience, I participated in several cultural immersion activities and excursions. I visited two national parks, the tallest waterfall in West Africa, museums, a monkey sanctuary, attended church services, learned the basics of the Twi language, and ate several Ghanaian cultural dishes. I also met several KNUST students and got to experience what college life is like in Ghana. I am so grateful for the connections I made with the nurses, students, university faculty, and local people. I was pushed outside of my comfort zone in so many ways over the course of this experience. I had never traveled abroad before, nor had I ever been on an airplane prior to visiting Ghana. While there, I had to adapt to a new environment with different cultural norms. This host of new experiences facilitated personal growth and provided me with countless learning opportunities. Overall, I gained an abundance of knowledge about Ghanaian healthcare, culture, history, and traditions. It was truly an experience of a lifetime. Studying abroad in Ghana has strengthened my practice of cultural humility and will aid in my care of diverse patient populations in the future. The dedication and compassion of the nurses I encountered in Ghana is inspiring and I hope to carry that with me into my future nursing career." – Mia Snowden, School of Nursing

"My semester abroad at the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland, made possible by the Mark and Myra Sorensen International Travel Scholarship, was a profound journey of personal, academic, and professional growth. It fulfilled my long-held desire to explore beyond Michigan and provided me with the opportunity to see not only Switzerland but also various parts of Europe, including Spain, Italy, France, Germany, and more. Academically, my goals of immersing myself in international courses and gaining diverse insights were realized. St. Gallen's educational approach broadened my horizons, offering diverse teaching methods and perspectives that extended beyond the Swiss borders. Engaging with the local community and forming friendships with other international students provided invaluable insights into Swiss society and education, despite differing experiences. Participating in international student events like ski trips and student gatherings expanded my social circle and made me more open to new people and perspectives. Personally, this semester gave me a much more open-minded outlook. I found myself doing activities and experiencing things I would have never had the chance to do. It allowed me to see the world from various angles, challenging preconceptions and biases. Possibly my favorite part of the whole trip was getting to see different countries and constantly challenging the ideas I had about places before going abroad. On a professional level, my international background has become a valuable conversation point. It gave me adaptability, cross-cultural skills, and a willingness to embrace challenges. These qualities will be extremely valuable in the professional world. As I return to Ann Arbor, I'll continue to be open to new experiences, just as I was abroad. I aim to share my insights and experiences to inspire others to seek international opportunities and embrace the richness of different cultures. The Mark and Myra Sorensen International Travel Scholarship played a crucial role in making this transformative journey possible, allowing me to explore Switzerland and other European destinations. It has shaped me into a more globally aware, adaptable, and culturally enriched individual. I have heard many people say that experiences abroad have a unique ability to enhance your education, and I would say this opportunity absolutely achieved this. This scholarship helped to unlock a life-changing experience that extended far beyond Switzerland. I am profoundly grateful for this opportunity and am eager to share the lessons and insights I've gained with my community." – Quinton Martin, Ross School of Business

2022

"This past May, with the support of the Mark & Myra Sorensen Scholarship, I was blessed to have the opportunity to study abroad in Barcelona, Spain for three weeks. During my time in the city, I took a class called Sports and Society in Spain and Catalonia, which focused on the history of athletic competition in the country, and more specifically, how its evolution has impacted the lives of Spanish and Catalan people socially, politically, and personally. The class also took us on a deep dive into the unique history of Catalonia, one of the country's 17 autonomous communities. This provided insight into the reasons that there is an existing divide between the Central Madrid and Catalan governments, and how that has manifested itself over time in a variety of ways in regards to culture and identity. One of the coolest traditions I was able to personally participate in was Correfoc in the city of Badalona. In English, correfoc means "fire-runs", which is a perfect description of the event. The tradition consists of designated participants dressing up as devils, lighting up fireworks, and others playing drums. Those who are daring enough have the freedom to get as close to these devils and fireworks as they please, but the fireworks are loud and even have the potential to burn you if you're not wearing proper clothing. Overall, it was a great experience, and we even got to chill by the Mediterranean Sea and dip our toes in the water after it had ended. As a native Michigander, living in an entirely different country with new people, new customs, and re-learning how to communicate in a language that I was very rusty with, I was forced out of my comfort zone immediately. As I aim to enter the world of management consulting post-graduation, my time in Barcelona affirmed the importance of being agile and acclimating to unfamiliar circumstances quickly, for both my personal and professional development. My biggest takeaway from the program was Barcelona's chill and relaxed nature, which is something that people from the city naturally embody. The combination of factors like the pace of life, the weather, and the ability to walk basically almost everywhere have stuck with me since my departure. Now, I try to build at least 2 hours of time per week into my schedule dedicated to low-stress, enjoyable hobbies I have, whether that's playing the piano, making pan con tomate, or hanging out with friends. Making the decision to study abroad was one of the best decisions of my life, and I can't wait to return to the city soon." – Peter Akande, Ross School of Business

"Thanks to the Mark and Myra Sorensen scholarship, I was able to spend my summer participating in archaeological fieldwork with the UMMAA archaeology field school in northern Mongolia. This trip was a wonderful opportunity to learn firsthand about excavation, conservation, survey, Mongolian culture, and so much more. Work in the field generally meant excavation of previously looted burials and occasionally surveying the area for other sites but in the bigger picture it meant helping to preserve Mongolian history. Because of the degree of looting in Mongolia, almost all of the sites we were working at were heavily looted and any artifacts remaining were left in dangerous conditions exposed to the elements. Our work there alongside our Mongolian colleagues was to salvage artifacts, excavate any unlooted burials to protect artifacts, and keep them out of the black market. Outside of this important work, we had chances to learn about rural northern Mongolian culture that we were helping to preserve, including visiting local families' gers, attending a ceremony performed by a shaman where we had the opportunity to ask questions, horseback riding, attending the Naadam festival in Tsagaan Nuur, and visiting the National Museum of Mongolia. The chance to connect with my peers, Mongolian colleagues, and instructors during my time in the field was invaluable and I treasure the friendships I got the opportunity to make with all of them. I, along with my peers, challenged ourselves in many ways during this field school, be it harsh weather, sickness, uncertain schedules with early mornings and late nights, or adjusting to a new culture. I returned with new insights into how valuable cultural preservation is and how much of a positive impact that can have for the communities that we were working with. I am so thankful for this opportunity and I am truly taking to heart what I have learned to apply to my academics, career, and future relationships with new people, especially when getting to learn about new cultures." – Dani Tutak, Art & Design and LSA

"The Mark and Myra Sorensen International Travel Scholarship provided me with the opportunity to travel abroad and live and learn in both Stockholm, Sweden and Copenhagen, Denmark! I spent my summer taking 3 different classes - Public Mental Health, African American Expats, and Public Health Policy in Practice. I always knew that I wanted to broaden my horizons in college and studying abroad provided me with the opportunity to do just that! The experience was something new and amazing, and a time that I’ll never forget. The atmosphere was welcoming and caring; I found myself exploring new parts of these cities each and every day, which took my learning to the next level. The lessons in the classroom were centered around what the students wanted to learn. This allowed me to truly find my passion for Public Health, especially centered around mental health advocacy and working with immigrant and refugee populations. Each week, we took trips to places such as castles, museums, healthcare facilities, immigrant and refugee centers, cafes, and restaurants, to not only apply our learning in a real life context, but also to immerse ourselves into the culture and history of the countries we were living in. This was a summer in which I not only learned things in the classroom, but also built skills and learned lessons that I will remember for the rest of my life. I've grown a new appreciation for independence, and built confidence to go to new places all on my own, and enjoy the time by myself. I've started to take more walks to clear my head, and write journals and blogs to help get my feelings out of my system. I'm also now a lover of discovering new places and appreciating the beauty of nature. As I was leaving Sweden, I realized how I had overcome many obstacles, how I did so many things this summer all on my own, and how much I admire the person I've become. This opportunity has impacted my life in the best way possible, and I hope to travel the world even more in the future!" – Feaven Gebrezgi, Public Health

Contact Information and Advising

Students interested in the Sorensen Scholarship should contact the International Center at [email protected] with questions. Education Abroad advising is available in the International Center by appointment throughout the fall and winter semesters. Appointment scheduling is available on the International Center’s website.