Dear Contributors and Program Participants,
The Chris Borton Memorial Scholarship Fund is now in its 28th year, and with the addition of the eight students this year who were able to go abroad, 106 University of California students have benefited from your generous contributions. They have pursued international study at universities in Austria, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, England, France, Germany, Ghana, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Scotland, Senegal, Spain, South Korea, and Sweden. For up-to-date information and details on how to contribute at any time, see the Fund website at https://www.bortonscholarship.org/.
We continue our long partnership with Chris’ alma mater UCSD (we awarded four scholarships to UCSD students in 2024) and have been encouraged by the greater diversity of the candidate pool achieved through our partnership with the University of California Education Abroad Program (UCEAP) as we grow the number of scholarships we seek to award. 2024 was our third year partnering with UCEAP to offer scholarships for full-year study abroad to students across the entire University of California system. The Board of Directors continues to be very pleased with the results. This partnership allows us to have a standard application and common administration of the scholarship across the system. In 2024, we awarded scholarships to students from UC campuses at Berkeley, Merced, Irvine, and San Diego. Our scholarship application can be found on the UCEAP website and is listed here.
2024 Scholarship Recipients:
Lesa Ritchie is a double major in Japanese Studies and History, with a minor in Education Studies at UC San Diego studying abroad in Tokyo, Japan at Keio University. Born and raised in San Diego, she was able to take Japanese classes at her high school, inspiring her to become a Japanese language high school teacher. She enjoys taking on leadership positions such as Japanese National Honors Society, captain of the UCSD club tennis team, and being active in the Education Studies Association at UCSD. Lesa says, “Being eager to gain cultural experiences and opportunities to advance my Japanese is what will help me become an authentic secondary Japanese world language teacher.” Lesa loves competing in tennis and pickleball, and is hoping to continue abroad, along with picking up other hobbies in Japan as well.
Erin Moore is a fourth year International Business major with a minor in Japanese Studies at UC San Diego studying abroad at Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan. Her grandparents greatly influenced her decision to study abroad, and she is eager to connect with her Japanese heritage. Erin is looking forward to reconnecting with friends she met during a two-week exchange program in 2019, including her homestay family, who has continuously been supportive and even taken trips to visit her in California. Erin’s hobbies include film photography as well as collecting records of her favorite artists. Erin has been actively involved in the Nikkei Student Union (NSU), a Japanese American social-cultural club at UC San Diego, where she has taken on various leadership positions and connected with her Japanese roots. Erin writes that she is “excited to interact with diverse people and make friends from all around the world in my classes as well as through various clubs. I hope to challenge myself to step out of my comfort zone and take advantage of my time abroad by trying new things and seeking new experiences.” In Tokyo, Erin has become friends with fellow Borton Scholar Eliza Parungao and they are exploring the city together.
Eliza Parungao is a second-year International Studies Major at UC Irvine studying abroad at Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan. She was born in Irvine and raised in San Jose, California. Eliza is committed to bridging cross-cultural gaps, particularly with international and/or English language learner students in the United States. For the past year, Eliza has worked as an English conversation partner under one of UCI’s exchange programs. Her time in this role gave her the unique opportunity to interact with Japanese students of the same age; she used this position to grow her students’ confidence in English and make new friends. As the first person in her family to go abroad, Eliza is thrilled to attend Waseda University for the entirety of her third year of university. She is most excited to rekindle friendships with the Japanese students she met during her time at UCI, and to go cafe-hopping.
Genevieve Riley is a Linguistics major at UC San Diego studying abroad at the University of Barcelona, Spain. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, she first became fascinated with language when she began studying Spanish in high school and listening to music in a variety of languages. When the pandemic hit and her high school transitioned to remote learning, she took the opportunity to learn the writing systems of some of the languages that interested her the most. In her bedroom, while completing her sophomore and junior years remotely, she self-studied the orthographies of Arabic, Russian, and Thai. Having become the most proficient in Spanish over the years, she chose to study in Barcelona. Genevieve writes, "What I'm most excited about is living in a dormitory with other international students. We'll get to learn about each other's cultures while sharing the experience of being in this bustling and multilingual city for the first time." With plans to be a speech-language pathologist, Genevieve is looking forward to broadening her awareness of both the commonalities and differences between people from various countries, and approaching those differences with cultural humility. Genevieve is studying Spanish, Catalan, and Irish literature in Barcelona during her first term.
Saha Kumar is a Japanese Studies major and Political Science minor at UC San Diego studying at Keio University in Tokyo, Japan. From a very young age, Saha had a passion for foreign language studies and especially the Japanese language and culture. Saha deeply treasures the learning of foreign languages, placing high value on communicating and connecting with people. She aspires to contribute to the field of international relations, especially as it relates to U.S.-Japan diplomacy, and looks forward to studying Japanese foreign policy while at Keio University. She aims to achieve JLPT N1 level fluency by her return to the United States in August 2025. Additionally, Saha has a niche, vivid passion for the art of Japanese swordsmithing. She is currently writing a thesis on the poetic significance of swords in classical Japanese literature, which she aspires to publish in a research journal prior to graduation. Saha is very excited to experience the Sapporo snow festival, visit sword-history-rich sites like Hakone, and explore the beautiful Japanese countryside. Saha writes, “One of my favorite experiences so far was attending a Japanese organized Indian Diwali (festival of lights) festival in Yokohama. Japanese people performed classical Indian dance such as Bhangra, played the thabla, spoke Hindi and Japanese interchangeably, and explained the story of Diwali. I was hugely moved to see people have so much joy and passion in celebrating my culture and languages, the same way I was passionate about theirs.”
Victor Jimenez Alba is a Computer Science and Engineering major at UC Merced who is studying abroad at Keio University in Tokyo, Japan. Victor was born and raised in Escondido, California where he learned an appreciation for Japanese culture from his mother. At Keio University, he hopes the courses he takes will advance his knowledge of computer science. He plans to evaluate graduate programs both at Keio and in other parts of Japan. At Keio, Victor is enrolled in a Japanese art of humor class with fellow Borton Scholars Saha Kumar and Lesa Ritchie. He writes, “Life here in Japan has been extemely enjoyable and refreshing. I feel a lot more excited to attend class because I feel the classes are a lot more personal.”
Miguel Ambriz Valdovinos is a Social Welfare major at the UC Berkeley studying at Complutense University of Madrid for the 2024-25 academic year. Miguel was born and raised by a single father in San Jose, California. As the first in his family to attend university, Miguel's educational pursuits are driven by a commitment to personal and professional growth. His time in Madrid will help to advance his proficiency in Spanish, a crucial skill for his future career in social work and nonprofit fundraising. Motivated by his mother's dream of traveling to "las Europas," Miguel views his study abroad experience as a heartfelt tribute to her memory. He is committed to making the most of this opportunity to study abroad for a full academic year to integrate into the local culture, build lasting connections, and gain a comprehensive understanding of the Spanish education system and social dynamics. Miguel's journey is not only about academic and professional development but also about personal growth. He looks forward to the independence and resilience that will come from living abroad. He believes this experience will undoubtedly shape his future, providing clarity on his aspirations and laying the foundation for a fulfilling and purposeful career serving Hispanic communities. He is eager to explore the peninsula and deepen his connection to his Hispanic heritage, Catholic faith, and identity as a first-generation college student. Miguel writes, “I enjoy being able to speak my mother tongue here. I like not having to say my name differently or to spell it out letter by letter, which always feels like a small but constant adjustment back home.”
Lavender Robinson (she/they) is a Spanish major from the UC Irvine who is studying at the Universitat de Barcelona for the 2024-2025 academic year. Lavender is a military kid who grew up mainly in the state of Maryland, lived in London for a short time in their younger years, and made many trips to Europe during her childhood. Learning languages and kinetically exploring the cultures constantly changing around her, Lavender always has had a knack for expanding their worldview and perspectives through outward cultural involvement, understanding, and study. Studying abroad in Spain is a dream for Lavender that she is excited to fulfill. She knows that her experience will allow her to grow in several ways alongside her academic endeavors. Their passions and drive are fueled by the quote: “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.”
Updates on 2023-24 Borton Scholarship Recipients:
Danicka Leeds (Chile, 2024) is finishing her year in Santiago, Chile in December. She has spent the year studying, teaching English, and traveling around South America (Brazil, Argentina, Peru). She writes, “Studying abroad was like receiving a blank canvas, where each day brought new colors and brushes to create experiences and lessons that would have been impossible to paint at home. Every encounter and discovery added another stroke to a collective masterpiece. This experience allowed me to create memories I once thought were unimaginable and inaccessible. It opened my eyes to how small I am in this vast world while revealing how profoundly rich these new perspectives and encounters are — not only for my professional development but also for my personal growth.” Danicka will be taking courses at UCSD this Winter and was selected to work in a lab on campus next year designed for underrepresented and first generation students. After graduating in June, she plans on taking a gap year to finish her prerequisites for Nursing school and to work as a phlebotomist in the meantime.
Callan Brakeman (Norway, 2023-24) has returned to UCSB for her senior year. She has rejoined the UCSB rowing team and is readjusting to the fast-paced schedule of the quarter system. She writes, “Since coming back, I’ve noticed how much more confident and self-sufficient I have become since my time abroad. My experience abroad also affirmed to me that I would like to pursue a career that works internationally and hopefully allows me to move back to Europe one day.” Callan is assisting with linguistics research focusing on segmenting and analyzing rhythm in languages and when her project finishes hopes to get an internship that focuses on localization and normalization of foreign languages.
Katia Griffin Netherlands, 2023-24) has returned to UCSD and is volunteering in the EAP office. She writes that “I miss my pink bike ‘Skipper’ so much, but I am still biking a lot here.” Katia received second place in UCEAP’s inaugural 2024 Californian Abroad blog contest for her blog chronicling her year abroad entitled Furthering My Mother's Legacy Through Study Abroad. She visited Ray and Verena in Davis this summer, where the conversation took place in both English and Dutch. Katia will soon be spending two weeks in Jordan with UCSD’s anthropology department. Katia is hoping to work in the cleantech sector after graduation.
Drew Shinozaki (Japan, 2023-24) describes the change that took place during her full year abroad as follows: “It’s hard to pinpoint when, but every part of me changes. My face changes. I dye my hair blonde. My MBTI switches type from introvert to extrovert. Somewhere along the road, I’ve come to enjoy being called on in class. I let myself take up space. Rather than being a chore, I see class as a time to connect with people I would’ve never talked to organically. I feel like glowing, with how happy I am.” Spending a year abroad gave Drew the chance to see growth. Drew writes, “I’ve learned friendship is not something that just seamlessly happens, it’s a choice. I’m American here, but when I return home, I will likely feel Japanese. I think it is okay to feel both.”
Piya Rao (Italy, 2023-24) has returned to UCSB and is keeping up with her Italian through two courses in the Italian department and as an officer of the UCSB Italian Club. Piya writes that, “My time in Bologna has profoundly changed me and molded me into a more worldly and outgoing person.” One of the most fulfilling parts of her experience was babysitting for local Bolognese families. Piya writes that the experience gave her, “a rare and intimate look into what being a part of an Italian family is like.” Piya is planning to return to Bologna for another year in August to work as an au pair.
Junehee Son (South Korea, 2023-24) writes that readjusting to UC Irvine after a year abroad in Korea felt like returning to a warm and familiar home after a long journey. She has secured a position as a teacher assistant at the UCI Early Childhood Education Center, where she is working with young children. She writes, “This hands-on experience has deepened my understanding of early childhood education and solidified my commitment to pursuing a career in this field.” Junehee keeps up with friends she made in Korea via group chat where they regularly share photos and life updates. She writes, “My study abroad experience broadened my global outlook and reinforced my vision and passion for promoting equity in education on a global scale.”
Kyle Lin (Japan, 2023-24) has returned to UC Riverside for his final year. His year abroad has inspired a long-term vision to create an international university and share the joy of studying abroad. He believes entrepreneurship is likely the most direct path to achieving this vision. He plans to complete his computer science degree and then go to business school. Kyle writes, “I wholeheartedly recommend studying abroad to students back home. The opportunity for cultural immersion, personal growth, and academic enrichment is invaluable. I recommend a full year, if possible, as it offers a more comprehensive experience that allows for deeper integration into the host culture and fosters profound transformation.”
Megan Hsu (Japan, 2023-24) has returned to UC San Diego for her senior year. She is interviewing for a few jobs that would be based in Japan and believes that her experience studying abroad in Japan has helped with the interviewing process and opened new opportunities for her. Megan writes the following advice to students considering studying abroad: “I would recommend studying abroad for one full year. To me, one year was the perfect amount of time to fully explore various regions of Japan, establish strong friendships, and get used to the lifestyle, while also having enough time to focus on schoolwork.”
Sophia Chang (Japan, 2023-24) has finished studying abroad in Tokyo and moved to Taiwan where she found an internship at Huashan 1914, a cultural and creative park. She is working in the art and public service department, ensuring that the space remains engaging and accessible to locals and tourists alike. She writes, “This role has allowed me to closely engage with cultural heritage and sustainability—areas that resonate deeply with my anthropology background and personal interests.” To those considering studying abroad, Sophia writes, “I would like to encourage anyone who is hesitating to take the step and apply. It has changed my life in a way that I could never have imagined, allowing me to learn so much more about myself and the world. Going for a year was the perfect amount of time as the initial months felt a bit overwhelming while I was settling in.”
Updates on past Borton Scholars:
Valeria Gonzalez Perez (Italy, 2022-23) graduated in September with a B.S. in Cognitive Science with a Specialization in Machine Learning and Neural Computation. Valeria has taken a position as a Cognitive Science Teaching Assistant at UCSD for COGS 160: Metabolic Health Analytics Lab. The Lab leverages statistics and machine learning to understand how our metabolic health is influenced by different factors like eating patterns, specific eating time windows, sleep, stress, and exercise. Once her time at COGS 160 ends, Valeria hopes to continue pursuing her passion in biomedical AI / Health AI by obtaining a Data Science or Machine Learning Engineer position in a biotech company in San Diego and by pursuing a Masters in either Data Science or Computer Science - Machine Intelligence at ETH Zurich, Switzerland starting Fall 2025. Valeria writes, “Studying abroad in Italy opened my eyes to the endless and unique opportunities my academic and professional career can take - along with the beautiful adventure of undergoing personal development as I discover and experience the world.”
Tzipporah Moehringer (Spain, 2022-23) is now officially part of the UCLA Women’s Rowing team. After three weeks of tryouts, two rounds of cuts, and over 150 other athletes interested in joining the team, she and seven other athletes made the final cut and now form part of the Novice team. She writes, “Becoming a Division I athlete has been a dream of mine since I started playing competitive sports at a young age, so I am beyond grateful for this incredible opportunity to compete at this level.” In addition to her Spanish major, she will be completing a minor in Musicology. After graduation, she plans to gain hands-on experience in the dental field before applying to post-baccalaureate programs to finish the requisite courses for dental school.
Brianna Angulo (France, 2022-23) is living in Washington D.C. where she started a Master’s program in International Affairs at George Washington University on a full-tuition scholarship. After returning from Paris, she participated in the UCDC program, where she interned at a human rights law firm. She writes, “I continue to pursue my passion for travel, with my most recent trip taking me to Japan! I am incredibly grateful for the Borton Memorial Scholarship, which made a transformative experience in Paris possible. My time in Paris was life-changing, allowing me to explore and accomplish things I never imagined.”
Matthew Zane (Japan, 2021-22) moved back from Japan to Boston to join a climate startup as a founding engineer. The company takes drone footage and creates 3D models of reforestation sites to measure the amount of carbon and biomass in these sites, creating more trust and verification in the carbon industry. As of February 2024, Matt was made a co-founder and now works in San Francisco. He writes, “It's very exciting being my own boss, working with customers, delivering a product, and building something out of nothing. It is certainly stressful. I don't make much money. The hours are excruciatingly long. And the future is uncertain. But this is kind of my dream job and I'm very glad that I have had the opportunity to do it.”
Neil Dudheker (UK, 2021-22) writes, “My year abroad in the United Kingdom has been the most impactful period of my life, both in terms of professional and personal growth.” While studying at University College London, he had a unique opportunity to take a module alongside third-year medical students. The experience of working closely with physicians, researchers, and medical students solidified his passion for medicine and motivated his pursuit of clinical development upon returning to the United States. Neil has become licensed as an EMT and as an EKG monitor technician, worked as a CNA and as an emergency department medical scribe, and is now in the process of applying to medical school with the intention to start in the Fall of 2025. Neil writes, “I wholeheartedly recommend studying abroad, especially for a full academic year. It has been the most transformative experience of my life, and I believe spending a year abroad provides the time necessary to build connections that can last a lifetime.”
Kayla Erler (UK, 2019-20) is working on a PhD at UCSD. She received the Achievement Rewards for College Scientist Fellowship at UCSD and is very excited for another recognition of her work. Her thesis project involves testing a large-scale bridge column with the type of seismic protective system that her team commonly works on. She writes, “I am absolutely loving the program. This summer we were all over in Italy for a major conference in earthquake engineering and as always, it was great to get back over to Europe again. My horse is doing quite well and coming along wonderfully under saddle. She is most certainly my favorite part of every week.”
Megumi Kawamura (Japan, 2018-19) is living in San Francisco and working at eBay as a global communications specialist. She writes, “I still travel quite often, and recently went back to Japan in August. I still dream about moving back to Tokyo one day.”
Gio Castillo (Spain, 2017-18) got to attend a wedding in Brazil of some friends he met while living in Barcelona. Gio writes, “It was so nice to be in a multi-lingual environment again, surrounded by Portuguese, English, and Spanish. It's always so enjoyable diving into one another's languages.” Gio continues his work scanning brains for research at UCSD and the VA.
Justin Lim (South Korea, 2016-17) is living in Boston and doing research in a lab that investigates the genetic basis of different diseases. He writes, “It is very different from the bioengineering work I had been doing previously so I have been busy learning as much as I can. As for graduate school, I am still interested, but I don't expect to apply for another year or two.”
Sunny Young (Netherlands, 2014-15) is back in Oahu, working remotely as a speech therapist for a school district in Alaska. She adopted a dog after moving back from Melbourne and writes, “I have been busy training her and keeping her out of mischief while enjoying the sunshine and rainbows.”
Shelby Newallis Plaisted (Italy, 2014-15) is teaching fifth grade in Los Angeles and enjoying married life. She writes, “We just got a rescue dog and are enjoying being paw-rents!”
Jessica Pham (France, 2013-14) has been a dedicated part of the UC San Diego community since earning her Political Science degree there in 2015. Over the years, she has contributed to various departments across campus, including launching one of the university’s newest undergraduate colleges in 2019. She went on to receive a Master’s in Public Administration from San Diego State University in 2022 and now works as a senior organizational consultant, supporting growth and strategic initiatives across UC San Diego. Outside of work, Jessica still loves to travel and will be visiting family overseas during the holidays. She is also thrilled to be marrying her partner of 10 years next year—a love story that began when he subleased her room in San Diego while she studied abroad in Paris!
Jonathan Nelson (Austria, 2010-11) has been flying drones as a pilot the last few years and traveling quite a bit. The drone work has taken him across the country and allowed him to connect again with friends and family. This past December he traveled back to Vienna for five weeks, visited the Christmas markets, and had a wonderful visit with his Austrian family and friends. His sister is living and studying in Vienna as part of a PhD program.
Tamar Freeland (Spain, 2010-11) took a year-long leave of absence from work and spent January and February traveling around New Zealand in a rented camper van, following the route that her mom detailed in her own New Zealand travel journal from eight years prior. In March, she moved to Goiânia, Brazil to begin a Fulbright grant working as english teaching assistant at the Federal University of Goiás, where she teaches classes in the language department and hosts English clubs focused on intercultural exchange. Before returning to Sacramento and picking up at Elk Grove USD in 2025, Tamar will travel through South America to visit old friends.
Kipp Trieu (France, 2008-09) continues to work in education as assistant head of lower school at an independent school in the Bay Area. He recently presented a workshop distilled from his dissertation at a national conference on progressive education and has written curriculum based on his research to supplement early career teachers' development around collaborating with families in a culturally proactive, inclusive way. Kipp visited Ray and Verena in Davis in June.
Nicola Hil, (France 2007-08) and her husband Amaury currently live in Northern Virginia where they both work for the U.S. State Department. They welcomed baby Amalia in September and are enjoying life as a family of five with toddler Milo and dog Mayberry.
Marilyn Shapley Robinson (Egypt, 2005-06) and her husband Kyle just moved back to Washington, D.C. after three years in Jakarta. They have a two-year-old daughter named Skye who is growing up an international traveler. Marilyn works for Catholic Relief Services on their government relations team. Her portfolio of issues includes food security, climate change, and East Africa.
Jenna Carlsson (Senegal, 2005-06) did a Senegal group reunion with six of her 2005-6 group members and their kids. She writes, “People traveled from around the U.S. (and world!) to come together, and we just spent hours talking and catching up.” Jenna traveled to Japan this year with other KonMari Consultants and got to meet Marie Kondo. She also found time for a dance trip to the Dominican Republic.
Alice Robertson (Scotland, 2004-05) writes, “In Edinburgh, Scotland, I walked far across town to attend class in the science buildings. One day I picked up a pasty at a small shop and there met a kind woman wearing a hijab. After learning I was a student, she expressed hope that my studies would be worthwhile. Now, 20 years and two children later, I too hope to place my efforts into that which is most worthwhile, nourishing my family and making a positive contribution to our shared community on this planet.”
Jonathan Wang (Japan 2003-04) moved to Singapore, a city where many of his closest friends from business school now reside, making it feel like “an extension of that international community I had sought and enjoyed.” He continues to be a leader at TikTok where he has picked up basic Mandarin and gone on to hire and lead teams across the United States, Canada, China, Singapore, the UK and Ireland. Jonathan writes, “My study abroad experience back in 2003—supported by the Chris Borton Memorial Scholarship—planted the seeds for a lifelong commitment to this path. To the next generation of Borton Scholars: I wish you every success and fulfillment that such experiences have brought me, and I envy the journey you’re about to begin.
Julia Carter Scanlan (Egypt, 2002-03) and her husband relocated from Seattle to Brooklyn. After almost five years at the UW Center for an Informed Public, she is wrapping up her time as Director of Strategy & Operations and looking for her next role. Julia helped build the CIP into the leading research center in the nation in the field of information integrity. She is now looking for a role in social impact or philanthropy where she can help organizations define and refine strategy and long-term vision, and then translate and implement that vision into tangible results. Julia writes, “I think my time in Egypt continues to inform my work, as I recognize how interconnected we all are, and how policy and human rights in one corner of the world has a ripple effect across the globe. I'm hopeful my next role allows me to continue to have an impact in this space.”
Andrea Martinez-Calvillo Hassan (Mexico, 1999-2000) is a mother of two boys and looking ahead to retiring from teaching to travel more and potentially live abroad for an extended period. She started taking Portuguese classes to explore that language and Portugal as a possible destination. She is teaching yoga classes at a studio and dance at a community college. Andrea writes, “Even though my study abroad experience was almost 25 years ago, it really left a lasting impression upon me as a citizen of the world and really gave me a greater appreciation for all the privileges and incredible opportunities we have here in the U.S.”
Austin Leininger (Scotland, 1998-99) and family welcomed a German exchange student in September. Austin’s son Anthony will be going to stay with the student’s family in Germany for three weeks. Austin was appointed as the director of Anglican Studies at Iliff School of Theology at the University of Denver, which he writes, “has been an incredible opportunity, but which also puts additional demands on my time as I keep my full-time job going, keep my teaching jobs going, and add in this new element amidst putting a bathroom in our basement for Jane’s mom, and my new learning projects.”
Thanks to all of you who enable us to support the efforts of these remarkable individuals to become world citizens and in doing so honor and remember Chris,
