08/19/2026
Our first HISP Highlight of the semester is Lauren Smith!
This summer, Lauren participated in the Music Therapy in Italy study abroad program. She spent time in Pisa and Tirrenia, learning from leading researchers in neonatology and neonatal music therapy. She worked at the Stella Maris Infant Lab for Early Intervention (SMILE Lab), and was immersed in Italian culture through cooking classes, city tours, and local traditions. Lauren also attended the World Congress of Music Therapy in Bologna, an international conference bringing together over 1,400 music therapists from 75 countries.
"This experiential learning made the Music Therapy in Italy study abroad program so impactful in supporting my studies, my personal development, and my goal of becoming a music therapist," Lauren said. "I am so grateful to the UGA Music Therapy professors, to the Honors International Scholars Program, and to all of the donors who have committed to making such incredible experiences possible."
For more information about HISP, visit https://honors.uga.edu/scholarships/internal-scholarships/honors-international-scholars-program/.