The Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Programs (NRIEP) hosted a Scholarship Awardee Showcase on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, displaying 104 student study abroad, independent research, and internship experiences across the 31 different countries represented by the University of Pittsburgh’s Nationality and Heritage Rooms. This is the NRIEP’s 75th year awarding scholarships to both graduate and undergraduate students to further their academic careers through global engagement. The poster event is their opportunity to display their global experiences to fellow scholarship awardees, Pitt students, faculty, and staff.
“The showcase allows students to engage in meaningful conversations about their experiences to help other students learn about Pitt’s cultural opportunities” Alivia Melius, the Graduate Student Intern for Student Success said.
Presenting on trips ranging from two weeks to several months, students exhibit both their academic and social accomplishments on posters set up inside the Alumni Hall Ballroom.
Katya Kovaleva, NRIEP Scholarship and Student Engagement Coordinator, said that “We provide University of Pittsburgh students with funding to support their global experiences. This poster showcase is designed to present to the Nationality Rooms Committee officers and the Pitt community the accomplishments and outcomes of their time abroad. We do not only learn about their academic achievements, but also get to see the lifelong friendships they built.”
Students can also spend their time abroad becoming fluent in different languages. Bailee Hassen, a Summer Language Institute student, spent ten weeks learning Slovak.
“We were in the classroom five hours a day five days a week. The best way to learn a language is through full emergence.”
NRIEP’s main goal is to encourage growth both academically and personally in Pitt students in order to prepare them to be leaders and innovators in their future endeavors. Allowing students to share their stories fosters new perspectives and encourages others to engage in Pitt’s global experiences.