Morgan Overcash ’18

College is about possibility: exciting and innovative classes, professional development opportunities, life-changing experiences. One of the greatest possibilities for undergraduate students is traveling, whether it’s to a conference across the state, to an internship across the country, or to a university across the sea. While traveling can be a frightening prospect, some students – like Morgan Overcash ’18 – arrive at UNC Greensboro ready to expand their comfort zone.

“I had wanted to study in Japan for years,” says Overcash. “UNCG was one of the few universities in North Carolina that offered Japanese, so I knew my opportunity would be here.”

Overcash’s chance came while she was a communications studies major in the Lloyd International Honors College (LIHC). In addition to its academic rigor, the LIHC requires students to study abroad for at least one semester in order to receive both International and Full University Honors upon graduation. During Spring 2017, Overcash traveled to Kyoto, Japan, where she attended Ritsumeikan University for five months.

“It changed me and the way I interact with the world,” she remembers. “It’s an experience I’ll never forget.”

Overcash studied in Kyoto, mountain climbed and visited temples with friends in Hiroshima, and explored Shirahama’s beautiful shores and hot springs with the generous support of the H. Michael Weaver International Studies Program Fund. Established in 1994 as part of the H. Michael Weaver Endowment in International Programs, the International Studies Fund has supported the international adventures of more than 2,000 students.

Overcash was incredibly grateful for the support.

“Affording education is hard. Affording to study abroad during it is more so, and I’m so grateful there are donors who understand how important these experiences are to young adults. Studying abroad isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, but those moments of challenge are crucial to becoming independent, creative adults.”

Those are the moments the staff and faculty in the LIHC hope its students experience, abroad and at home.

“The Lloyd International Honors College did more for me than help me study abroad. My professors and peers constantly challenged me to explore my limits and jump out of my comfort zone. I came to UNCG hoping to travel and expand my horizons, but I graduated with a deeper understanding of the world and my own abilities. I graduated knowing there’s no limit to what I can do if I keep pushing.”

Overcash hopes to carve out an international career for herself, using her communication skills to connect with people across the world. While her vision of her future is still developing, she knows the possibilities are endless.

Story by Michelle Danner-Groves, Donor Relations