- Posted in All University
- Category: Campus News
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, PA – Lincoln University has been added to the roster of institutions that will partner with the Vira I. Heinz Program for Women in Global Leadership (VIH) to enable female students to study abroad.
On September 16-17, 2010, Carol Larson and Sarah Wagner, director and coordinator of the VIH Program, respectively, visited Lincoln University to promote the initiative.
Connie Lundy, director of International Programs and Services, expressed her enthusiasm regarding this very generous scholarship.
“It’s an honor for Lincoln to be included amongst these prestigious universities” said Lundy. “These scholarships will serve to ameliorate the financial challenge our students face in their efforts to fund summer study abroad. We thank the H.J. Heinz Company Foundation for having the vision to make this global experience a reality.”
Under this program, three Lincoln University women will be annually awarded $5,000.00 to use toward a summer study abroad program of their choice. The VIH Program prepares women for tomorrow's global challenges by offering an unparalleled opportunity for international experiences, leadership development and community service.
During the spring semester prior to and the fall semester following their international experiences, the awardees meet in Pittsburgh, Pa. for training on how to successfully complete the program. These trainings provide the awardees with a foundation of skills necessary to maximize on their cultural education while abroad and to engage their leadership skills in their own communities upon return.
Female candidates are only eligible in the first semester of their sophomore year, once they have achieved a 3.0 GPA. The application must be submitted by November 1, in the fall semester for the summer international experience. Additionally, applicants must have no previous international experience before applying.
Traditionally, fifteen universities and colleges in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia participate in the VIH Program – by a special amendment Lincoln University has become the sixteenth.
The VIH Program has three principal components: the international experience, the Community Engagement Experience and two weekend-long, intensive leadership development retreats.
The program was named in honor of Vira I. Heinz daughter-in-law of Henry J. Heinz, founder of the food processing company, who “was so moved by the life-changing power of foreign travel that she bestowed the gift upon generations of young women.”
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Lincoln University – founded in 1854 as the nation’s first Historically Black University – combines the best elements of a liberal arts and sciences-based undergraduate core curriculum and selected graduate programs to meet the needs of those living in a highly technological and global society. The University enrolls approximately 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students.
Internationally recognized for preparing learners and producing world-class leaders in their fields, Lincoln has created five academic Centers of Excellence-programs of distinctions. They are: Lincoln-Barnes Visual Arts, Grand Research Educational Awareness and Training (GREAT) for Minority Health, Mass Communications, Teacher Education and Urban Pedagogy and Business and Information Technology.