UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Students who are interested in study abroad and international students needing extra support will benefit from funds raised during this year’s University-wide GivingTuesday by Penn State Global. The Penn State Global effort will target two needs: the Global Emergency Fund and the Dagobert & Elsie de Levie Study Abroad Fund.

Global Emergency Fund

“I arrived at Penn State on Feb. 25, 2022, from Afghanistan with my pregnant wife. We were having some financial problems and needed assistance with our settlement and some of our expenses here,” said Saboor Torabi, an international student. “Generally, when someone arrives at a new place with a family, they have a lot of needs. In our case, we had financial problems as we were not allowed to bring cash with us from our home country. The financial help we received from Penn State Global was a great relief for us.”

Each year, nearly 10,000 students from more than 140 countries call a Penn State campus their home away from home. Like their fellow students, they attend classes, join student organizations, engage in campus activities and enrich the University’s academic community.  

However, unlike their domestic counterparts, international students are not eligible for federal and state assistance, and there are only limited scholarships to assist when unpredictable global events impact their lives. Generally, these students do not have access to additional support if resources from their home country are no longer available due to political or natural disasters.

"The Global Emergency Fund shows international students that they are a part of a strong, supportive and inclusive Penn State family,” said William Shuey, director of development for Penn State Global and International. “We want to make sure that international students, regardless of where they’re from or their situation, have the financial support they need during times of crisis and emergency.”

Dagobert and Elsie de Levie Study Abroad Fund

Studying abroad is a unique opportunity for students to develop academically, personally and professionally, and expanding students' global perspectives through immersive international experiences is a key goal of Penn State Global’s vision. As the founder of Penn State’s Education Abroad program, Dagobert de Levie has opened a global experience to students since the 1960s.

“Engaging in cross-cultural experiences and learning about various perspectives through immersive education abroad programs not only provide Penn Staters with a well-rounded and global education but also shapes them into well-rounded people,” said Kate Manni, director of education abroad in Penn State Global. “Providing transformative opportunities is exactly what Penn State’s Education Abroad Program is designed to do.”

While more than 3,000 students across the University typically participate in a study abroad experience each year, many more miss out due to the cost. Through the support of this fund, an increasing number of students can travel to parts of the world that they never thought they’d see — experiences that inform what they set out to accomplish with their careers and in their lives as global citizens. 

“Receiving this scholarship for study abroad lifted the financial burden off my shoulders so I was able to focus on the educational and social experience of being in France. I had some money saved for when I was going to study abroad, and instead of using it on tuition, I was able to use it for my everyday living expenses,” said student Rikea Hudson-Simpson, who received a scholarship in spring 2022. “I will be forever thankful for the award.”

In addition to funding tuition and housing while abroad, gifts to this fund will be used to help pay for students’ travel and lodging, groceries, tickets to museums and cultural attractions, guided weekend trips to experience a host country’s culture and more.

Support Penn State

Gifts during GivingTuesday advance the University’s historic land-grant mission to serve and lead. Through philanthropy, alumni and friends are helping students to join the Penn State family and prepare for lifelong success; driving research, outreach and economic development that grow our shared strength and readiness for the future; and increasing the University’s impact for families, patients and communities across the commonwealth and around the world. Learn more by visiting raise.psu.edu.