Scholarship Makes Brick Woman's Study Abroad Dream Come True

BRICK, NJ — A Brick Township student is studying abroad this spring after being awarded a scholarship by an organization that aims to help students broaden their horizons with education in another country.

Sabrina Halk, a sophomore at Georgian Court University, is studying in London thanks to the scholarship from the Fund for Education Abroad. She was chosen from among thousands of applicants. The fund has distributed $3 million to 935 students since its inception in 2010.

Halk had a goal of traveling internationally after seeing her older sister have the opportunity previously, according to a news release from Georgian Court and the Fund for Education Abroad.

Halk, a graphic design major, is taking courses in digital production, theater, and ethics at St. Mary’s Twickenham London.

"I’m looking forward to developing a cosmopolitan mindset that will influence my artistic style," she said.

"My dreams of studying abroad are coming true because of this scholarship," Halk said. "I am paying for my abroad experience entirely myself. My mom is a single mother, and I don’t want to put that financial burden on her, so the scholarship is really lifting a weight off my shoulders."

Many of the fund's scholarship recipients are students of color, first-generation college students, and community college students; Halk is a first-generation student. There was just a 6 percent chance she would receive the scholarship, according to the award letter she received.

"It’s very challenging to get accepted for an FEA scholarship, and Sabrina is our first GCU student to ever receive this national study abroad scholarship," said Laura Grodewald, director of global education programs for Georgian Court University.

"I’m very grateful that I was chosen," Halk said. "I couldn’t have done it without the support of the GCU community. Ms. Grodewald was the one who made me aware of the scholarship and helped me through every step of the process. I can’t wait to share everything I learn in London with my community when I return."