Herr Scholarship helps PFW students study abroad and find future direction

Before he became a top Fort Wayne attorney, Thomas Herr was a student at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, trying to find a direction in life. A scholarship opportunity to study for a year in Greece changed him in all the best ways.

“You gain a perspective of the world you won't have unless you spend some time outside your country,” Herr recalled, “and you gain a perspective of your country that you won't have unless you live abroad and talk to other people in the world. I can’t imagine how my life would be different had I not spent a year in Athens when I was in my early 20s.”

Herr never forgot the impact of studying abroad, and four years ago initiated the Thomas A. Herr Scholarship for Purdue University Fort Wayne students pursuing a degree in the College of Liberal Arts. As part of the program College Year in Athens—the same program Herr participated in—the opportunity is still a fully paid chance to study in Greece, but now it’s for a semester instead of a full year.

That’s not a bad thing, though, as the first two students to win the scholarship can’t wait to visit again, and they tell just about everyone else on campus they should apply. Current junior Rashida Lan heard about the scholarship from the first recipient, Saron Girma, B.A. ‘23, and then from current senior Maddie Boesch, who made the trip last spring.

Lan left Jan. 19 and won’t return until after commencement. The timing is part of the deal because Herr wants the trip to go to sophomores or juniors who come back as seniors and tell everyone about their experiences so others might consider applying.

“I think Greece is one of those places that is idealized, and I didn’t ever think I’d get a chance to go,” Lan said. “Hopefully I can continue their legacy.”

When they aren’t talking about their semester abroad, Girma and Boesch are talking about applying to law school. They are walking billboards for the program and have filled Lan with ideas and suggestions on what experiences to take advantage of—and even what and how much to pack.

“I learned I was a lot more adaptable than I thought I was before I left,” Boesch said. “It really helped enhance my perspective, especially studying back here. In the degree I’m studying, we do a lot of global perspectives, and it’s given me a lot of insights.”

She’s majoring in women’s studies and stressed to Lan that she should also take advantage of the volunteer opportunities in Greece. Boesch volunteered at a donkey sanctuary, which she loved partly because the people involved were so amazing.

Like Boesch, Girma sounds just like Herr when describing her time abroad, which she says made her a better person. Before leaving, the political science major had never lived anywhere but in her parents’ home and had never traveled internationally.

“The one thing for me is I really wanted to feel like I had lived in Athens,” Girma said. “Even though I could have traveled more on weekends—I took a couple of trips—but I spent most of my time in the city with friends I had made there.”

Girma said she learned quickly what she could and couldn’t do individually, and stretched her boundaries on a solo trip to Vienna. Lacking a lot of money, she mostly walked around like a typical tourist.

“The biggest thing is to go with an open mind, but also to identify a couple of things before you leave that you value,” Girma said. “Tell yourself, `These are the experiences I want to have before I leave.’”

Heading overseas to study, not knowing anyone upon arrival, can be a daunting experience, but it’s also a huge chance to grow. According to John Jensen, director of PFW’s Study Abroad Program and coordinator of its national student exchange, four PFW students spent the fall semester in the United Kingdom, South Korea, Mexico, and Chile, and six students are studying in Greece, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Sweden, Mexico, and Spain this semester.

A call for applications for the Herr scholarship during 2025-26 academic year will go out on Saturday, and next year’s recipient will be selected by mid-April. For more information, contact James Toole, associate professor in the Department of Political Science, at [email protected]. He heads the selection committee.

“People should embrace the anxiety about studying away from home,” Boesch said. “I think it enhances the experience overall because it helps you grow in so many ways. It’s important to know that the anxiety is not all bad, and it actually helps you in the long run.

“I think the more anxious you are about going, the prouder you are when you come back.”

Click here to learn more about these and many other opportunities beyond the classroom in the College of Liberal Arts.