UW Social Work Student Receives First Cheney Fellowship for Study Abroad |
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Dec. 4, 2007 -- "I want to get over there and see what they're up to," says Joseph Marrazzo, a University of Wyoming master of social work student who will soon travel to Ireland as the recipient of the first-ever Cheney Fellowship for Study Abroad.
The highly-competitive fellowship was created by Vice President Dick Cheney and his wife Lynne to promote study abroad opportunities. Their gift supported multiple grants and awards. Marrazzo was awarded the $7,000 grant to study at the University of Cork, Ireland this spring semester. To be considered for the fellowship, applicants must have maintained a 3.5 grade point average and submit a detailed summary of their potential contributions through research or study abroad.
Marrazzo plans to study housing issues for individuals diagnosed with mental illness and homelessness within that population.
"This has been a project that I really wanted to start. The idea came from my studies here (at UW) and the gaps that I have noticed in the system," says Marrazzo.
"Joseph has an outstanding program of study planned," says Anne Alexander, director of UW International Programs. "He is a superstar student with the potential to substantially impact social work by participating in the program in Cork."
Marrazzo, who has never studied abroad before, says he looks forward to what he will be able to gain from the experience.
"I think the best thing we can do in any country is to leave it and return with new advice, new ideas and new paradigms from other people," says Marrazzo. "There is a lot we can learn from the way they do things in Ireland, particularly in the area of housing issues with people who are diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illness. I want to see why and how it's working over there."
For more information on the Cheney Study Abroad Grants, e-mail Alexander at aalex@uwyo.edu.
Photo:
Mona Schatz, Lea Terwilliger Grubbs and Diane Kempson from the University of Wyoming Department of Social Work congratulate master's in social work student Joe Marrazzo on his acceptance to study abroad at the University of Cork in Ireland. Marrazzo is the first-ever recipient of the prestigious Cheney Fellowship for Study Abroad. Posted on Tuesday, December 04, 2007
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