Richmond Scholars Use Enrichment Grants to Build Experiences Related to Academic and Professional Goals
Enrichment Grants provide funding for Richmond Scholars to pursue study abroad, internships, research projects, and other opportunities before they graduate. Five scholars who utilized the grant during Summer 2022 share their experiences and advice for other scholars.
Ben Cudmore, ‘25
Ben attended the British American Drama Academy’s (BADA) Midsummer in Oxford, an intensive immersion program focused on classical acting at Magdalen College at the University of Oxford. Ben described living and studying with a faculty of leading theatre practitioners, and taking masterclasses from professional directors and actors, as a “humbling and invigorating experience,” that will prove invaluable as he works to make a name for himself in the theatre industry.
Ben appreciates the perspective gained by experiencing how another culture embraces theatre, and encourages scholars to use their Enrichment Grants to fund “an opportunity they could not get anywhere else.”
Elena Durazo, ‘25
Elena participated in the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) backpacking course in Palmer, Alaska. This one-month group experience in the Chugach mountains focused on the development of backpacking, wayfinding, navigation, and leadership skills, and culminated in a four-day solo trip. Elena formed relationships with others who share her passion for the outdoors and the environment, gained experience relevant to her future goals of professional work in the Outdoor industry, and even saw a black bear in the Talkeetna wilderness on her birthday.
Elena advocates for creativity when utilizing the Enrichment Grant, noting, “If you had told me in high school that I would [receive funding] to attend a NOLS backpacking course in Alaska, I never would have believed you!”
Mia Lazar, ‘24
Mia participated in the study abroad program UVA in Italy: Photography and Italian Art History, gaining hands-on academic and cultural experiences as she completed classes while traveling in Tuscany, Rome, and Venice. Participants were required to carry their cameras everywhere they went, using digital photography to document and explore Italy. As a Visual & Media Arts Practice major, Mia valued the experience of studying Renaissance art while seeing it in person. She also gathered footage for future documentaries as she looks forward to graduate study and professional work as an educational filmmaker.
Mia views the Enrichment Grant as “an incredible opportunity to explore places and learn things outside of the Richmond bubble,” and encourages scholars to think about using their grants for summer study abroad.
Beza Mulatu, ‘25
Beza used the Enrichment Grant to help launch the Logicae Science Summer Program (LSSP) in collaboration with partner universities in Egypt, Morocco, and Ethiopia. The primary objective was to create research opportunities for exceptional high school students with an interest in making an impact in Africa through science. Beza served as facilitator for the 2022 LSSP, gaining experience related to her future goal of working in the field of educational administration and improving the quality and scientific research education in Africa.
Beza’s favorite memory from the summer was attending the culminating experience of LSSP, a symposium where students delivered presentations on their research topic. Beza encourages scholars to do research before using the Enrichment Grant funding so they get what they want out of the opportunity, and to “always have a backup plan!”
Holly Wemple, ‘25
Holly’s Enrichment Grant funding covered living expenses while she participated in research with Dr. Michael Leopold at UR. The Leopold Research Group sought to design a xanthine biosensor based on materials and strategies previously developed in their lab. The group plans to present their results at a conference and publish their findings in a journal. The work in Dr. Leopold’s lab is relevant to Holly’s professional goals of pursuing a MD-PhD, with a research focus on the impact of climate change on human health.
Holly values the experience she gained designing her own experiments, and the support she received from other lab members who “created a true community on campus [during the] summer.” She advises other scholars to use the grant funding as early as they want, and to not let the opportunity pass by.
Every Richmond Scholar is eligible for an Enrichment Grant of up to $4000 to support an experience that contributes to their overall academic or professional trajectory. Faculty endorsement is required. Scholars should visit https://scholars.richmond.edu/current-scholars/enrichment-grant.html for more information about the Enrichment Grants and contact the Office of Scholars and Fellowships with any questions.