‘Profoundly Transformative’: Global Scholars in Their Words
Ten years ago, the first Global Scholars arrived on Babson’s campus with grand aspirations to learn at the world’s best entrepreneurship school, to grow as students and citizens, and to achieve on campus and beyond.
Every year since 2014, the Global Scholars Program has awarded need-based, four-year, full-tuition scholarships to a small, highly talented group of international students from countries around the world.
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The Global Scholars was the vision of Kerry Murphy Healey H’24, Babson’s 13th president. “Babson’s Global Scholars will bring new perspectives and ideas to Babson that we, in turn, will share with the world,” she said in announcing the program.
The Global Scholars Program continues not only to transform Babson’s campus and the lives of the scholars but also to impact the world. More than five dozen Global Scholars have graduated from Babson, empowered and emboldened as entrepreneurial leaders to effect change and solve problems locally and globally, helping to fulfill Babson’s mission.
“Roger Babson’s vision was for Babson College to have a global impact. Our alumni represent 130 countries and 50 states. We are an international community. Over the past decade, Global Scholars continue our commitment to a global education.” Babson President Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA’92, PhD says. “The diversity of thought and perspectives throughout our campus, exemplified by the Global Scholars Program, enhances and improves the capacity of all of our students and alumni to create economic and social value in communities around the world.”
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Here, a group of recent alumni and current Global Scholars describe what the program and its impact mean for them:
Emmanuel Nsanganwa ’24 / Rwanda
“Being a Global Scholar at Babson College was a profoundly transformative experience for me, primarily in two significant ways. Firstly, it alleviated my concerns about affording higher education and enabled me to concentrate fully on my academic and personal growth. As an international student from Rwanda, the opportunity to access a world-class education at Babson College was merely a distant aspiration that materialized through the Global Scholars Program. Secondly, being a Global Scholar pushed me to embrace a global citizenship mindset. Not only did I have to adapt to a new life outside my home country, but I also learned invaluable lessons from diverse perspectives and global minds.”
Paloma Ovelar ’27 / Paraguay
“For me, being a Global Scholar has been a life-changing opportunity that goes far beyond academic enrichment. Over the past decade, this program has provided unparalleled opportunities for young entrepreneurs from a variety of backgrounds and countries who have helped enrich the Babson community with their ideas and experiences. Being a Global Scholar has granted me access to some of the highest-quality education in the world and an entrepreneurial environment that fosters cultural exchange, intellectual growth, and personal development. The financial assistance that the program offered has played an important role in enabling me to fully embrace these opportunities and push beyond my boundaries.”
Daniel Deng Chol ’23 / South Sudan
“Being a Global Scholar was a defining feature of my Babson experience. First, the Babson Scholar cohort has been my tight-knit family consisting of inspiring individuals that continually inspire me even post-graduation. It provided a space for me to share goals and ambitions with individuals whose life experiences and aspirations resembled my own and enabled us to easily stand on each other’s shoulders.”
Martina Garabedian ’22 / Bulgaria
“It is hard to put into words the enormous impact that Babson and the Global Scholars Program has had on my life. It has turned around the way I look at the world and has opened my eyes to the endless opportunities after Babson. One specific aspect that I cherish is having the chance to explore clubs and societies outside the classroom. This is where the true network lies and how we get to understand our skill set. My time at Babson has been just four years, but the mark that it has left is lifelong. Proud to be a Globie!”
Anilkumar Thevar ’27 / India
“Babson College is a fantastic place, not only for career advancement opportunities but also for learning essential skills and forming meaningful connections. For students like me who are used to a close-knit, family-like community, being a Global Scholar has filled that gap during my time here. We are more than just a group of students who share a similar scholarship or background.”
Kimheat Chheav ’26 / Cambodia
“Being a Global Scholar means having an unwavering support network on campus. Other Global Scholars have consistently offered invaluable advice, connected me with other peers, and held me accountable. They’ve made Babson feel like my home away from home. I am equally dedicated to empowering fellow Global Scholars, just as past scholars supported me, to thrive during their time here.”
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