Christopher Beck (Italy, 2001-02)

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Christopher Beck is attending the Universitá degli Studi di Bologna – Europe’s oldest university “where the ghosts of Petrarch, Dante, Copernicus and others roam”. As a Philosophy major with future plans for international law, Christopher is taking classes with impressive titles like Storia dell’Estetica e Fenomenologia and Filosofia dell’India e dell’Asia Orientale. He reports that his professors seem very passionate about what they do, although this does not make them punctual for lectures. Despite the bureaucratic mysteries, “I know I’m in the right place,” writes Christopher.

Shige Itoh (Japan, 2000-01)

Shige Itoh is studying Management Science and Japanese Studies at Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo, with plans for a career in US-Japanese relations. After he returns from Japan, Shige will be preparing for the Law School Admissions Test and will be applying to law school. He writes, “I will be finishing up my Management Science and Japanese Studies majors this year, and will use my learning experiences from Japan as the foundation for the two honors theses I plan to write for both of these majors.”

Yukio King (Germany, 2000-01)

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Yukio King is attending the University in Göttingen, Germany focusing on Urban Studies and Planning, with a particular interest in community development and environmental design. He is already plotting to get back to Germany. Yukio writes, “I mean it is not really even about Germany. I think it is more about being in an amazing place like Berlin where things are ever changing, and speaking a new language, and learning everyday.”

Nicole Wu (France, 1999-00)

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Nicole Wu studied Economics and French Literature and Theater at the University of Montpelier in France. Her goal is international career in business. Nicole finished her degree in Economics in June of 2000. Back in New York, she took a TV and film acting workshop. She continues dance classes and has added voice lessons. She traveled to Brazil in 2001. She is now working as an Operations Associate for Fixed Income Securities at AIG Trading in Greenwich, Connecticut. She also finds time for Brazilian Martial Arts and volleyball.

Austin Leininger (Scotland, 1998-99)

Since returning from the University of Stirling in Scotland, Austin has completed his degree at UCSD, graduating magna cum laude in Religious Studies with a minor in Classical Dance (Ballet). Currently, Austin works days as Senior Technical Writer at Intel Corp. and nights and weekends as pre-seminary intern at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church where he is discerning a call to holy orders (studying to become an Episcopal Priest). Austin hopes to start Seminary school where he will be working toward a double masters — an MDiv (Master of Divinity needed for ordination), and an MA in Biblical Languages which he hopes to take on to the PhD level. Though he has not found a dance studio since leaving San Diego in 2000, Austin continues to hone his balance and poise by studying Goju Ryu Traditional Okinawan Karate in which he is currently a purple-belt. Though Austin currently lives in San Jose, CA, he hopes to move back to Scotland for a couple of years after ordination.

Andrea Martinez-Calvillo (Mexico, 1999-00)

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Andrea Martinez-Calvillo is studying Latin American Literature and Dance at the University of Guadalajara, Mexico, with plans to become a teacher. She is learning to speak Nahuatl and to sew her costume for the Ballet Folklorico by hand. After graduation, she plans to continue her studies of Latin American Literature and History at the University of Costa Rica. Volunteer work at a secondary school will prepare her for entry into the teaching profession. “I am very excited about this study abroad experience and hope to learn and grow from this travel opportunity as much as I did from my stay in Mexico.”

Mark Morris (Ghana, 1998-99)

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Mark Morris finished his BA in Visual Arts and a BS in Management Science. He is Visual Arts Coordinator at a gallery in San Diego and works at a restaurant as well. He is considering applying to graduate schools for Master of Fine Arts programs. Mark had two exhibits in San Diego after returning from Africa. Recent travels have taken him to Spain and Peru.

Jennifer Chang (England, 1997-98)

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Jennifer shares Chris’ background as a graduate of Davis Senior High School and student at UCSD’s Warren College, as well as his interests in science and music. She anticipated her experiences abroad with an eager mind and open heart, contemplating not only the immediate adventures but also the long-range benefits of this opportunity.

Since receiving the scholarship, Jennifer graduated Magna Cum Laude from UCSD in June 1999. She stayed an additional year to complete a graduate degree in Biology, with research focusing on meningitis, and then was employed by a bio-technology firm. She is currently working on her PhD at the University of Washington in Seattle.