Eight students across several different academic disciplines were awarded a study abroad and enrichment scholarship. The John Hood and Edith Shuford Summey Honors Carolina Scholarship awards students funding towards their selected study abroad program in addition to an opportunity to extend their studies by traveling independently for an additional eight days to enrich their learning about the topic of study, region, language, culture, and history.
Natives of Gastonia, NC, John Hood Summey ’62 and his late wife, Edith (Edie) Shuford Summey ’62, valued their time at UNC. Both went on to acquire a post-secondary degree (John a Ph.D. and Edie an Ed.D.) and served as teachers at the university level. John and Edie always put great value on education and international travel. That mindset led them to create and endow an Honors Carolina study abroad scholarship supporting undergraduates participating in Honors Carolina summer programs in international locations to explore the culture and area in which they study.
The eight 2025 Summey Scholars will be studying on Honors Carolina study abroad programs in Thailand, England, Spain, Germany, Scotland, and France. Their independent travels will take them to Vietnam, Switzerland, Spain, Belgium, Italy, France, England, Germany, the Netherlands, Scotland, Ireland, Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia. Each awarded student has a professional or personal curiosity driving their application to travel beyond the bounds of their programs. The Summey Award makes it all possible.
Meet the 2025 Summey Scholars:
Cedra Ali, class of 2026, is from Greensboro, NC and is majoring in biology and neuroscience with a minor in chemistry. Cedra is traveling to Thailand on the Burch Field Research Seminar focused on Public Health, Entrepreneurship, and Food Systems. Her Summey award will allow her to explore Vietnam’s food systems, public health initiatives, and cultural heritage, enhancing her understanding of nutrition, food security, and healthcare challenges in Southeast Asia. This experience will build upon her study abroad learning by providing hands-on exposure to regional food access and public health efforts.
Kayla Archibald, class of 2027, is from Covington, GA and is studying dental hygiene. She is studying abroad this summer on the Burch Field Research Seminar focused on Criminal Justice in London. For her extension, she chose to visit Switzerland because of its often-praised healthcare system and correctional institutions. Her initial program in London centers around the complexities, intersections, and shortcomings of health and law within the UK and the US, so an extended trip to Switzerland will be a great contrasting approach to the subject matter. She aims to learn various strategies for combating issues in healthcare access and public policy through Switzerland, hoping to integrate solutions as a future healthcare provider.
Maddie Hanes, class of 2028, is from Winston Salem, NC, and is majoring in sports administration and pr/advertising with a minor in entrepreneurship. She is traveling to Manchester on the Burch Field Research Seminar on Sports Entrepreneurship. Her Summey award will allow her to visit Barcelona, Valencia, and Madrid, engaging with renowned soccer clubs and their innovative business models while immersing herself in Spain’s rich culture of diversity and art. By observing Camp Nou’s commercialization and Mestalla Stadium’s community-driven approach, for instance, she aims to understand how organizations grow each year and gain valuable knowledge about the origins of sports and culture.
Tiffany Jones, class of 2027, is from Charlotte, NC and is studying global studies with a minor in conflict management. Tiffany is traveling to London and Berlin on the Burch Field Research Seminar on Nationalism and Identity. For her travel extension, Tiffany will visit Belgium and Switzerland with the aim to deepen her understanding of immigration, migration, and nationalism. Through her planned excursions, she hopes to learn how these countries have developed a pro-immigration policy stance and gain a broader perspective on how different nations manage and benefit from diversity. Her key learning goals include understanding the historical and contemporary impacts of migration, analyzing inclusive policies, and appreciating European cultural integration.
Olivia Lang, class of 2026, is from Black Mountain, NC and is majoring in exercise and sport science with a minor in neuroscience. She is studying abroad this summer on the Burch Field Research Seminar on Smart and Connected Teams in Spain. Olivia’s Summey award will allow her to travel to Barcelona, Rome, Paris, and London, as Europe has been the site for some of the most successful Olympics in recent history. She plans to investigate the connotations of physical activity in different nations under the guise of the Olympic games. She is interested in the ways an urban area is planned to encourage physical activity. While her itinerary combines many aspects of her identity as a group fitness instructor, sports club dancer, future PT, and concerned citizen; she ultimately hopes to gain insight about the global perceptions of physical activity.
Alisa Pokazanyeva, class of 2027, is from Raleigh, NC and is majoring in environmental science and chemistry with a minor in data science. This summer she will study abroad on the Burch Field Research Seminar on Sustainability in the UK and France. For her Summey award extension, Alisa will travel to the Netherlands and Germany because of their developed public transportation and commitment to a clean future. The activities highlighted in her itinerary, like volunteering on local farms and touring city districts implementing renewable energy, focus on cultural exploration and important sustainability initiatives. She hopes to use what she learns to promote sustainable practices anywhere she finds herself.
Faith Skowronnek, class of 2026, is from Chicago, IL and is majoring in English and comparative literature with a minor in studio art. Faith is traveling to London and Oxford for the Honors Seminar on the British Literature, which has a focus on fantasy literature in 2025. With her Summey award extension, Faith hopes to discover the extensive literary tradition of Europe and its rich historical influences more deeply by traveling to Ireland and Scotland. Her itinerary is shaped to reflect and deepen her knowledge of the writers from her program by visiting museums concerning their works, like the Museum of Literature Ireland and visiting landmarks where they once stood such as Oscar Wilde’s house. She intends to immerse herself in the minds and experiences of such authors so that her view of the world may be broadened to reflect the complexities of reality and the nuances of history.
Kayla Vu, class of 2026, is from Jacksonville, NC and double majoring in global studies and public policy with a minor in studio art. Kayla is traveling to Thailand on the Burch Field Research Seminar on Public Health, Entrepreneurship, and Food Systems. Her Summey award will give her the chance to explore sustainable food systems and see how sustainable agricultural methods are implemented throughout the diverse landscape of Southeast Asia. To do this, she plans to visit three different sustainable farms throughout Southeast Asia, each in varying levels of rural/urbanity. The proposed farms will be in: Singapore (highly urban, high-income country), Thailand (rural farms, upper middle-income country), and Malaysia (urban, upper middle-income country).
Read more about Honors Carolina study abroad programs here.
Honors Carolina contact: Gina Difino, (919) 962-9680, Gina_Difino@unc.edu
Communications and Public Affairs: (919) 445-8555, mediarelations@unc.edu
