January 27, 2010
For Immediate Release

For more information: Grant Skabelund (801) 863-8709
University Marketing & Communications: Erin Spurgeon, (801) 863-6807
Written by: Marianna Henry

Career counselor Amber Collins has won UVU’s First Annual International Education Essay Contest. The first runner up is Lisa Williamson, academic advisor for ESL and basic composition. The winner receives an opportunity to travel with one of UVU’s International Study Programs.

For this year’s contest, full-time UVU advisors composed essays in response to the theme, “Why an International Education Experience is an Essential Component of a UVU Education.” Essays were judged anonymously. The goal of the contest was to give one advisor an international education experience and to help more advisors assist students in discovering the international education opportunities offered by UVU.

“Employers are really looking for individuals who are internationally savvy. The world is a growing global market and there are incredible opportunities for students to increase their knowledge and understanding of the world economy,” Collins said. “UVU has a lot of resources and committed faculty and staff members who can make the international experience a little less complicated and maybe even less scary.”

Collins receives an all-expenses-paid experience with a UVU international study program, such as one week in Italy or Brazil. The destination will be determined by the international study programs office in consultation with the winner and program director(s).

“I am really excited about the opportunity to see one of UVU’s study abroad experiences first-hand,” Collins said. “I studied abroad in Mexico [as a student] and it was great, but I’d also like to see what it is like in parts of the world a little bit further from home.”

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