Shoreline is first Community College to offer #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship

Shoreline Community College campus

Shoreline Community College, together with Temple University, leader of the widespread #YouAreWelcomeHere social media campaign to encourage international students to study in the United States, and seven other U.S. college and university partners, is launching a national scholarship program for incoming international students for fall 2019.

The other partners include Concordia College (Minnesota), Eastern Michigan University, James Madison University (Virginia), University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, Purdue University Northwest (Indiana), Seattle University, and Western New England University (Massachusetts).

Visual arts center
Photo by Wayne Pridemore

This new scholarship will provide financial support for incoming international students who are committed to furthering the #YouAreWelcomeHere message through intercultural exchange that bridges divides at their future campuses and beyond.

“Shoreline Community College is proud to be the first community college to help launch the #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship, advancing our College’s commitment to all students and embracing our global interconnectedness,” said President Cheryl Roberts, Ed.D.

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Photo by Steven H. Robinson

Participating colleges and universities will offer an annual, renewable scholarship that covers a minimum of 50 percent of recipients’ tuition.

“The #YouAreWelcomeHere campaign has built new bridges of goodwill between U.S. higher education and students worldwide,” said Jessica Sandberg, Temple University’s director of international admissions and campaign spokesperson. 

“This scholarship is our way of meeting students halfway across that bridge. It advances the campaign through meaningful action, adding concrete support for international students to our already well-received message and providing those students with a way to expand the conversation.”

1200 building
Photo by Wayne Pridemore

Shoreline Community College is pleased to recognize international students who have a vision for increasing understanding between different cultures. Shoreline will award a scholarship covering 50% of college-level tuition to two students for two years. The scholarship is open to all international student applicants in F-1 status who attended high school overseas, and the award may be applied to all areas of college-level study (i.e. excluding ESL or pre-college coursework).

“Especially in the wake of the anti-immigrant rhetoric coming from our policy leaders, it’s vital that U.S. institutions find ways to make international students and scholars feel welcome and valued on our campuses and in our communities,” stated Esther D. Brimmer, executive director and CEO of NAFSA: Association of International Educators. 

“We need more programs like this one that encourage international students to choose the United States as their study destination. Investing in international education will ensure our nation remains globally competitive and engaged, and I am heartened to see the U.S. higher education community take a proactive stance in this effort.”

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Photo by Diane Hettrick

The #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship program has early commitments from several universities, and Sandberg expects that many more will join in the coming months. “We hope other colleges and universities will see the scholarship announcement as a call to action,” Sandberg said, outlining her vision for broad participation among U.S. higher education institutions.

Following expressions of apprehension by some international students about studying in the U.S., in November 2016, Temple University expanded the #YouAreWelcomeHere hashtag into an international campaign to ensure that international students at U.S. universities and colleges feel welcome in the United States.