Center for Global Programs & Services at University of Delaware

Last weekend danced the night away at our annual Spring Formal! Scholars came together to celebrate another amazing year together and have some fun before the start of finals. They enjoyed light refreshments and a live DJ that brought the music and vibes. Thank you to everyone who attended and spent the evening with us!

Every spring semester, receives hundreds of incredible student essay and photo submissions to the Study Abroad Storytelling Contest. We’re so pleased to announce this year’s winners! Find them below and learn more about them on our contest page linked in our bio. And stop by today’s Global Festival in the Lil Bob Gym from 12 - 2 p.m. to see the winners in person!

2026 PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS 

Living Category: 

CGPS Directors Award
Rachel Herway 
Tea Gardens 
India ENGL - Winter 2026

Faculty Directors & Campus Partners Award
Madison Shutkufski
Trastevere in 35mm
World Scholars - Rome, Italy - Fall 2025

Blue Hen Community Award
Florencia Araya Gomez
A Day in Dyrehaven
DIS Copenhagen - Fall 2025

Learning Category:

CGPS Directors Award
Abigail Underwood
Stone Faces of Florence
Florence, Italy - Spring 2026

Faculty Directors & Campus Partners Award
Arianna Torres
Lioness Stalks Her Prey
Tanzania ENWC - Winter 2026

Blue Hen Community Award
Amy Rodak 
Where the Mountain Breaks
New Zealand, KAAP - Winter 2026

Loving the Location Category: 

CGPS Directors Award
Jack Phillips 
Ascending
World Scholars - Rome, Italy - Fall 2025

Faculty Directors & Campus Partners Award
Curtis Zhuo
Coastal Colors of Manarola
Siena, Italy ELEG - Winter 2026

Blue Hen Community Award
Lillian O’Phelan
Verona Through the Trees
Florence Honors HOSP - Winter 2026

2026 ESSAY CONTEST WINNERS 

1st Place
Josh Turek
Off The Beaten Path
Italy FINC/ENGL - Winter 2026

2nd Place
Ashley Cooke
I Am Because We Are: How Ubuntu Has Forever Changed Me
South Africa HBNS - Winter 2026

3rd Place
Miran Andriyevsky
Locus Grecia
World Scholars - Athens, Greece - Fall 2025

Last Friday was our final of the semester! We hosted our second annual International Student Poster Fair, where international students got the chance to present their research to the community. We were also joined by The College School (TCS), which is a school in the UD community that teaches students who learn differently from grades 1 through 8. Thank you all for another amazing semester of Coffee Hours! Join us tomorrow from noon to 2 p.m. at Global Festival in the Lil Bob Gym.

Believe it or not, Blue Hens are already preparing to go this summer and fall! We recently hosted Pre-Departure Orientations for students traveling in the coming weeks and months for short term and semester-long study abroad programs. We wish them the best of luck! If you’re one of the lucky students heading off for an educational adventure, be sure to share your stories with us by tagging UDGlobal - and don’t forget to wear your UDAbroad shirts!