b'STUDY ABROAD SERVICESPROVIDING HIGH-IMPACT GLOBAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIESStudents attend a session on money and budgeting abroad at the 2024 Study Abroad Pre-Departure Conference.UF Study Abroad launched several new initiatives this past year, reflecting our ongoing efforts to expand our reach and services. Following being awarded an IIE Passport Grant, we created a cohort of 38 Passport to the World scholars who were awarded passport funds and supported throughout the year with various academic and social events. In collaboration with UF Passport Services, we hosted an in-house Passport Day, allowing prospective study abroad students to apply for their passports quickly and conveniently.To better prepare our students, we organized a Pre-Departure Conference for outgoing summer and fall students. The event featured various breakout sessions, an international mixer, and opportunities for students to chat with their peers. Additionally, we hosted our first-ever Study Abroad Faculty Director Appreciation Night to recognize the dedication and passion of our faculty.Earlier in the year, our Assistant Director of Faculty Engagement, Nicole Fuls, was accepted to join the prestigious and competitive Fulbright-Nehru International Education Administrators Seminar. Nicole traveled to India with nine other international administrators and spent two weeks gaining insights into their higher education systems. Visiting universities in New Delhi, Ahmedabad, and Hyderabad, she returned to UF with a deeper understanding of Indian culture and ideas on how UF might expand our study abroad opportunities there.Most recently, we welcomed our new director, Seth Parrish, to the Study Abroad team. We are excited to work together and support Seth as he Nicole Fuls, outside of the leads and grows UF Study Charminar in Hyderabad, India Abroad. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to Susanne Hill for her many years of dedicated service to UF Study Abroad Programs. Seth Parrish Susanne HillTwenty-eight UF students were awarded the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of States Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, these scholarships supported the students to study or intern abroad during the Summer 2024 term. These exceptional students traveled to a diverse array of countries including Belgium, Croatia, Costa Rica, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain, Thailand, and the United Kingdom. In total, UF students were awarded $100,000 in scholarships this term. Go Global Gators!'