Passport to Possibility

“The biggest thing I can say I learned is that I want to live life without any regrets and maximize every experience that I am given,” says University of Arizona student Juan Vasquez, reflecting on his study abroad experience in Spain.

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For Vasquez, a Franke Global Scholar who completed his Spanish minor in Alcalá de Henares last summer, studying abroad meant far more than coursework. Living and learning in a new country challenged him personally, pushed him beyond his comfort zone and deepened his appreciation for global history and culture.

“Something people don’t think about with study abroad are the challenges that come with it,” Vasquez says. “I had never been that far away from home for that amount of time with people who I did not know. ... Sometimes you are hit with homesickness and missing your home-cooked meals or just interacting with familiar faces.”

Those challenges, he says, were also what made the experience transformative. While living just outside Madrid, Vasquez studied in the hometown of Miguel de Cervantes, author of “Don Quixote,” and visited Cervantes’ preserved childhood home.

“I went into his house and saw where he used to write. I was really impressed with his imagination and his humor when it came to writing,” Vasquez says. “If you ever get a chance to read his book, you’re going to see the main protagonist — he sees the people he interacts with as part of his fantasy.”

His time in Spain also reshaped his understanding of identity and pride.  

“The Spanish people are very, very proud of being Spanish and where they come from,” Vasquez says. “Seeing their pride fully influenced me. I’m Mexican American, and I’m very proud of my roots and I’m very vocal about that.”

Stories like Vasquez’s are becoming possible for more Wildcats through major philanthropic investments in study abroad.

It began with a historic $20 million pledge from the Garcia Family Foundation — the largest of its kind for the university’s study abroad program — designed to remove financial barriers for students with need. Building on that momentum, an estate gift from the late Susan K. Von Kersburg ’62 ’72 and a new commitment from Steve Kerr ’88 and his wife, Margot ’88, further advance the university’s goal of ensuring global learning is accessible to every student.

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The Garcia Family Foundation’s investment will reshape what is possible for thousands of Wildcats in the years ahead. The new Garcia Family Foundation Scholarship for Study Abroad supports the university’s goal of tripling participation by 2029, turning global learning into a defining feature of the Wildcat experience. From short-term, faculty-led trips to full semester programs in more than 30 countries, students will now be able to pursue international study with fewer financial obstacles.  

Soon after the Garcia announcement, the university received an $8 million gift from Von Kersburg’s estate. The gift from Von Kersburg, who believed deeply in educational opportunity, provides lasting support for in-state students in the W.A. Franke Honors College, ensuring that Baird Scholars can study abroad without financial constraints. (Read more about Von Kersburg on Page 4.) Inspired by meeting Baird Scholars at a university event, Von Kersburg sought to create pathways for them to broaden their worldviews and deepen their education. Her estate gift includes a $1 million endowment dedicated to funding global experiences for these exceptional students.  

The momentum continued with a $1 million commitment from the Kerrs, supporting study abroad scholarships for students in the College of Humanities. For Steve Kerr, who spent much of his childhood abroad, the impact of international education is personal and profound. Their gift, establishing the Kerr Family Endowment for Humanities Abroad, will support students in faculty-led programs across the globe, helping them build language skills, cultural understanding and lifelong perspectives.

The trio of gifts represents more than financial support; together, they reflect a shared belief that global experiences strengthen students academically, personally and professionally.  

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The impact of donor support extends across disciplines and degree levels. Second-year doctoral student Chuan Choy spent last summer performing, teaching and conducting research in Argentina and Brazil, supported by the College of Fine Arts Medici Circle. A piano student, Choy shared musical performances, presented masterclasses and conducted research sessions at Colegio Pestalozzi in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the State University of Paraná in Curitiba, Brazil.

Touring internationally and studying the nationalistic style of Brazilian music reshaped his perspective on his craft.

“I learned so much about the different cultures in Argentina and Brazil and was inspired by the cities, environment and the people,” Choy says. “I also discovered underrepresented Brazilian composers and how their music reflects the rich culture of the country.”

The tour expanded his artistic voice and professional network, while offering opportunities to teach and mentor advanced students. “Working with students in Brazil allowed me to understand the different approaches in music and strengthen my teaching voice,” he says.  

Choy credits donor generosity with making the journey possible. “Special thanks to Sylvia and Herbert Burton. Your support has enabled me to achieve my project goals, widen my worldview by traveling in South America and continue advocating the importance of music and its ability to bridge communities worldwide.”

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Senior Lauren Harper, a Franke Global Scholar, studied in Orvieto, Italy, in a summer program through the College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture. “My architecture curriculum is quite structured, which makes studying abroad during the regular academic year difficult, so I needed a summer opportunity that would fit within my schedule,” she says. The six-week experience combined architectural history and theory with hands-on drawing and observation, allowing her to engage directly with places she had previously only encountered in textbooks.

Before departing, Harper faced the challenge of leaving home for the first time. “I’m a born-and-raised Arizona local and have actually lived in the same bedroom for all 22 years of my life,” she says. While the distance and cost felt intimidating, traveling with classmates and receiving scholarships helped ease her concerns and made the experience possible. “Overcoming these challenges pushed me out of my comfort zone and encouraged me to embrace new experiences.”

One of Harper’s most impactful memories came during a visit to the Vatican — an experience shaped as much by anticipation as by surprise. Entering through quiet crypt spaces rather than the grand exterior, the group ascended a narrow spiral staircase in silence. “As I climbed the stairs, I passed several nuns and began to hear a chorus of harmonious voices echoing above,” she recalls. The space suddenly opened into the vast interior of St. Peter’s Basilica, where “golden light streamed through the high windows, illuminating the immense central nave and Bernini’s ornate bronze canopy.” The unexpected transition revealed, she says, “the incredible emotional power architecture can have.”

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Throughout Italy, Harper found herself continually inspired. “Seeing buildings, sculptures and frescoes that were created hundreds of years ago with such precision, craftsmanship and care was truly remarkable,” she says. “The amount of time, skill and dedication required to produce that level of work, long before modern technology, was almost hard to comprehend. As someone studying architecture, it made me appreciate the depth of knowledge and artistry that went into historic buildings and spaces.”

Italian culture also reshaped her daily mindset. “Italy taught me to slow down and appreciate everyday moments,” Harper says. “Since returning home, I’ve tried to carry that mindset with me by making the most of everyday experiences rather than always waiting for something bigger or more exciting to happen.”

One of her favorite daily rituals was stopping each morning before class at Dolceamaro in Orvieto to get a chocolate croissant that was, she says, nearly the size of her face. “I would eat it slowly while working on my morning architectural sketches.” She also loved grabbing pizza or sandwiches from “tiny, hole-in-the-wall” shops and sitting on quiet curbs in side streets to take a break from the busy city atmosphere. “Sometimes these shops were quite literally holes in the wall that you would order through,” she recalls.  

And, of course, she says the gelato was unforgettable, rating the best lemon gelato as coming from Vicenza. “It was incredibly fresh and citrusy, and I can still almost taste the bright tang of the lemon if I close my eyes and think about it.”

Stories like these represent the growing impact of investments that are opening the world to Wildcats — academically, professionally and personally — and ensuring that global experiences are within reach, regardless of background or discipline.