European Alum Council Award for Graduate Study in Europe
In cooperation with the McCulloch Center for Global initiatives at Mount Holyoke College, the European Alum Council annually offers a monetary award to a Mount Holyoke graduating student who wishes to pursue graduate work in Europe. For more information on how to apply please contact the McCulloch Center.
Past winners of the Mount Holyoke European Alum award are:
- Mary Pura ’17 – to pursue a master’s degree program in English Literature and Society at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland
- Emily Castner ’18 – to pursue an International Master’s program in Mathematics at Technische Universität Kaiserslautern, Germany
- Javeria Kella ’19 – to pursue a Master’s degree in Development Studies at the Graduate Institute, Geneva, Switzerland
- Ann C. Hewitt ’20 – Ancient Studies & Anthropology, to pursue a postgraduate degree program in Archaeology at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland
- Yitongyue Lin (Lilian) ’21 – International Relations & Spanish, to pursue an MS in Sustainable Development at the University of St Andrews, Scotland
- Maya Mauroof ’22 – International Relations, to pursue a Master’s degree in Interdisciplinary International Affairs at the Graduate Institute, Geneva, Switzerland
- Natalie O’Neil ’23 – Russian & Eurasian Studies with a minor in Politics, to pursue a MSc at the University of Glasgow in Media, Communications, and International Journalism
- Kathryn (Kit) Corcoran ’24 – pursuing a MSc in Management and Marketing at University College Cork, Ireland
Kathryn (Kit) Corcoran’s Winning Essay for the European Alum Council Award 2024:
“Pursuing my master’s degree in Ireland will give me the opportunity to expand upon my professional skill set, become more fully immersed in the academic and extracurricular communities of University College Cork, continue my study of the Irish language (which I began during my semester abroad at the same university in 2022), and grow personally as a sustainability-minded global citizen.
As a history major with a minor in environmental studies, I have developed a passion for understanding the complexities of societal transformation over time, including the growth of sustainable and inclusive practices. The MHEAC scholarship would be invaluable for my overall study experience, as the decrease of financial stress would allow me to become more actively involved in my campus community.
One of my biggest goals during my period of study is to become involved in business clubs to make connections within my program and in other business tracks. Such societies offer opportunities to build networks of both academic and professional support, and one of the groups that I think may act as an amazing forum for network-building is the new Women in Business and Leadership Society. Based on my research about them, this group appears to be an exciting and empowering space to meet fellow young women striving to succeed as the next generation of business leaders.
I firmly believe that women of my generation are redefining what professional success looks like, and part of that involves supporting fellow women from all backgrounds. My primary professional goal is to be part of the generation of women in business which celebrates diversity of identities and ideas and works towards solidifying ethical and sustainable practices as the undisputed norms of industry. I am confident that my involvement in both business-oriented and artistic clubs and societies at UCC will allow me to maximize my cultural exchange experience.
The scholarship offered by the European Alum Council would additionally allow me to expand upon my network within the European Alums community, which I have already begun to participate in through their Facebook page. I recently introduced myself to the community through this page, and I was able to make contact with Barbara Schmidt, the alum representative in Ireland.
When I first found out about the European Alum Symposium in Munich in November, I was elated that I will soon have the opportunity to meet fellow Mount Holyoke alums living overseas. Even before learning about the scholarship, I immediately started making plans to attend the symposium, from looking at flights, to beginning a travel fund, to researching accommodation options in Munich.
The free registration and contribution towards my travel costs would allow me to attend the symposium and utilize some of my financial resources for other uses, including paying my rent and tuition fees.
I am so grateful that the European Alum Council offers new graduates these kinds of opportunities, and I am confident that the scholarship will both enhance my postgraduate study experience and allow me to become more involved in the global MHC alums community.”
Renee Scialom Cary Award for Study Abroad Students
In celebration and fond memory of its founder, Renee Scialom Cary ’48, biennially MHEAC offers a limited number of awards to current Mount Holyoke students studying in Europe to allow them to attend the European Alum Symposium taking place on that year. Entries are currently closed.
Applicants must submit their request supported by a short statement (max. 200 words) elaborating on the following statement: “A Mount Holyoke education is a key to the world: My experience.” The final selection is made by the officers of the European Council. The winning essays are published below.
Our 2024 winners are…
- Elsa Kulatunga ’26, Dublin, Ireland
- Hanh Minh Pham ’26, Edinburgh, Scotland
- Kate Vavra ’26, Montpellier, France
- Madeline Greenberg ’26, Paris, France
- Siyu Lan ’25, Geneva, Switzerland
2024 Winning Essays for the Renee Scialom Cary Award for Study Abroad Students:
Elsa Kulatunga ’26, Dublin, Ireland
My key to the world is language. It’s a somewhat literal sentiment– the languages taught at Mount Holyoke offer its students keys to a few corners of the world. My linguistic education mostly consists of studying dead languages. At a glance, they might not seem to open too many contemporary doors.
One of the most valuable lessons I have learned from the ancients involves translation: translation is always an interaction. Aristophanes’ lewd jokes were a hit in Athens. How I translate them just as hilariously two thousand years later involves contextual compromise. Translation is a continual process, requiring consideration that is global through space and time.
At MHC, the academic interactions between students, faculty, and even disciplines demand everyday translations. In seminars, we bounce off of each others’ arguments and paraphrase one another, ensuring that we interpret each other respectfully. MHC thrives off of the interdisciplinarity, the challenge of it. This atmosphere ensures that I broaden my perspective. Language is borne of interaction, in turn bearing translation, which bears perspective. I have confidence that Mount Holyoke has strengthened the global, open-minded perspective I need in order to take on the world, whether I am using all of the languages in my key ring or just one.
Hanh Minh Pham ’26, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
A Mount Holyoke education is a key that unlocks doors to worlds I never knew existed. I still remember my first day on campus, the chilly New England air carrying unfamiliar scents of maple and oak. “Xin chào,” I whispered, clinging to a piece of home.
This piece of home blossomed beautifully when I invited my friends to celebrate Tết, sharing Vietnamese traditions with peers from many countries. I practiced Russian, a language I learned in high school, with new friends while building knowledge about global culture and politics. In my sampling theory course, I found myself drawn to data on dengue fever estimation. Suddenly, my passion for statistics became a bridge to my roots, offering insights into public health back home. From a Vietnamese student unfamiliar with the world to a global citizen, I have grown in ways I never imagined.
As I prepare for my semester in Edinburgh, I reflect on how far I have come. Mount Holyoke did not just hand me a key – it taught me to craft keys for doors yet undiscovered. Standing on the threshold of my future, I am ready to unlock new possibilities, carrying with me the diverse voices of my Mount Holyoke family.
Kate Vavra ’26, Montpellier, France
I cherish my Mount Holyoke education and recognize that it is a key to the world. Within my life, the most exceptional experiences have been sparked by personal connections with Mount Holyoke community members. A close bond with a French professor led to many office hour discussions about overcoming my fear of speaking French in public. With time and encouragement, I built up my confidence. I signified my progress by applying to study abroad.
For spring break, my tennis coaches took the team to their hometowns in Puerto Rico. We competed on the courts of my head coach’s alma mater, and his family and friends cheered us on as we beat the island’s top two ranked teams.
My faculty advisor went above and beyond to craft a detailed letter of recommendation to help me get my dream internship at the Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School. The hands-on legal experience I gained will help me achieve my dream of working in international law.
Mount Holyoke is uplifted by dedicated community members who share their keys to the world. I look forward to making my own contributions to the Mount Holyoke community during my studies and throughout my future career.
Madeline Greenberg ’26, Paris, France
Mount Holyoke has introduced me to people from around the globe and opened my eyes to a broad network of opportunities. I certainly never expected to have an international roommate. Natsumi became a lifelong friend and we have traveled together to Japan, Canada, and throughout the U.S. The assuredness I gained at MHC has provided me the courage to accept a summer job in Rome, which was a life-changing experience. With my strong sense of adventure, I decided to study in Paris for a full year. That is what I love about Mount Holyoke: it is not typical – it strives to reveal the exceptional within its students.
Mount Holyoke is where intellectual boundaries are pushed far beyond the beautiful campus in Western Massachusetts. I have taken courses at all five of the consortium schools and have participated in UMASS fashion, MHC Jazz and Glee Clubs, and the French department at Amherst. My Mount Holyoke internship at The Eric Carle Museum art studio has shown me the joy of sharing children’s books in over a hundred languages. I am thrilled to be studying abroad in Paris this year and to be able to join you at this fascinating alumnae symposium.
Siyu Lan ’25, Geneva, Switzerland
At Mount Holyoke, I made friends from all over the world. Inspiring conversations happen everywhere, from classrooms to M&Cs and Blanchard to the Greens. We love turning voices into action. Recognizing the Pandemic’s impact, my friends and I revived a Five College network conference. Raising funds, refining content, and managing logistics was challenging, but with help from alumnae, professors, staff, and peers, we made it happen.
This summer, I received an email informing me that my Lynk Funding internship was funded by the Class of 1964 Green Purse Endowment. I realized that what is happening on campus and within the global Mount Holyoke community mirrors what occurred two hundred years ago with the green velvet bag.
Motivated by my time at Mount Holyoke and my interest in mobility and inequality, I set my next destination to Geneva, knowing that with Mount Holyoke community behind me, my journey to the world is limitless.
Past winners of the Renee Scialom Cary Award for Study Abroad Students include…
- Ina Dombrowski ’24, Cork, Ireland
- Renee Russo ’23, Graduate Institute Geneva, Switzerland
- Mickiyah “Mickey” Pope ’23, Queen Mary University of London, UK
Congratulations to our winners, past and present!