Two CWU students receive study abroad grants for next fall

Two Central Washington University students will be spending the fall quarter studying abroad after being selected for the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) Global Access Initiative (GAIN) Travel Grant.

Information Technology Management major Mistie Mexay was awarded the GAIN Travel Grant after applying for the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship earlier this year. She received $1,000 to fund her trip to London, England, along with $500 from the CIEE Gilman Go Global Grant through the U.S. Department of Education.

Mahmood Alkhazraji, a junior political science major, was awarded the Gilman Scholarship in 2025 and spent three months on Costa Rica last fall. This year, he received $1,500 through the GAIN Travel Grant to study in Cape Town, South Africa.

The CIEE grants are open to college students with high financial need who have applied for the Gilman Scholarship. Recipients of that scholarship will be announced soon, although Alkhazraji explained that he is not eligible because he was selected last year.

Either way, he’s looking forward to putting his new skills into practice on a different continent later this year.

“I think Costa Rica served as a good test for me because I got to know my strengths and weaknesses, in particular when it comes to being focused while also being away from our university,” Alkhazraji said.

He will be doing a political science internship with non-governmental organization (NGO) in Cape Town, and he explained that CIEE is searching for internship opportunities that specialize in either human rights advocacy, governance research, or peacebuilding analysis. He will also be taking a few classes during his time abroad.

“Because of my desired career path as a diplomat in the Foreign Service, and the lack of opportunities and resources for Political Science students who wish to take their major and careers seriously in Ellensburg, I had to search for organizations and programs that offer internships and studying abroad in order to add to my resume and add to my experiences,” Alkhazraji said.

Mexay is coming into the CIEE program with less study abroad experience than her classmate, but she feels well prepared for her study abroad opportunity in London.

“Since childhood, I've been curious about different cultures and perspectives, and learning about other students’ experiences encouraged me to take the leap to explore studying abroad opportunities,” said Mexay, a junior. “Now, I am taking meaningful steps to fulfilling that dream and broaden my worldview.”

While in London, Mexay will be participating in an internship focused on UX/UI design while building other technical and professional skills. Each of the courses she will be taking will relate to her major and support her academic and professional goals.

“This experience will allow me to apply what I've learned in the classroom to real-world projects, and everything I gain from this opportunity will contribute to my long-term career development,” Mexay said, adding that she hopes to enhance her skills in cross-cultural communication and adaptability.

Both students thanked CWU Education Abroad — a division of the Office of International Studies and Programs (OISP) — for supporting them throughout the CIEE application process.

“Steve (Cook) and Matthew (Hauck) from the OISP office contributed a lot by helping me navigate how to sign up on the CWU system and figure out total costs and meeting me virtually,” Alkhazraji said.

Mexay also found the Education Abroad team to be extremely helpful as she began exploring study abroad opportunities.

“The Office of International Studies has supported me every step of the way,” she said. “I am incredibly grateful for them as they have been patient with any questions I've had and have been extremely encouraging.”

To learn more about education abroad opportunities at CWU, email educationabroad@cwu.edu.

Support OISP through #GiveCentral

With the annual #GiveCentral campaign taking place this week, OISP is hoping to build support for two projects as part of the April 23 Day of Giving.

The office is hoping to build up funding for two scholarships: the WorldCat First-Time Passport and WorldCat Airfare scholarships, particularly the latter, which is now depleted after awarding three students last year.

“These programs are all funded by donations, and we would love to be able to provide even more study abroad opportunities for our students,” said Senior Study Abroad Advisor Matthew Hauck. “What we’re trying to do with both scholarships is to lower barriers and increase student representation, and we would really appreciate the support of the CWU community.”

To contribute to either the WorldCat First-Time Passport or WorldCat Airfare scholarships, visit give.cwu.edu.