Alumna Cecelia Prewett Sees Her Study Abroad Scholarship Impact by Joining Ireland Trip
When Cecelia Prewett (’93) was studying journalism at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, she had one of the most impactful experiences of her life when she participated in a study abroad trip to the Netherlands.
“It changed my life. So, when I was asked to join the Board of Visitors and they said, ‘You can do direct giving or give to the general fund.’ I said immediately I want to help change somebody’s life like mine was,” she said.
With that knowledge, Prewett established a scholarship specifically earmarked to support students at the College of Communication and Information who want to study abroad—and this year, she and other alumni were invited to join the study abroad trip to Dublin, Ireland, and see first-hand what their support means to students.
“I didn’t realize prior to the trip that the person who gave us the scholarship was going to be the alumni who were there, and that was a nice surprise. It was really cool to meet Cecelia and thank her in person,” said senior Sophia Dillman, who was one of two students to receive Prewett’s scholarship. “She said study abroad really changed her life and she really wanted to give back. It was nice to hear why she gives, and it was more than just a transaction.”
The Dublin trip is facilitated by the School of Communication Studies and immerses students into the diverse culture of the city and has been one of the longest-running Vols Abroad programs at CCI. CCI Dean Joe Mazer and Assistant Dean for Advancement Mark Geller wanted to find a way to show alumni the positive impact of their gifts, and they realized inviting alumni to go on the trip would let them meet the students, observe the program, and also just have a good time.
“It was wonderful to have CCI alumni, friends, and members of the leadership team join us in Dublin for the Communicating Across Cultures study abroad program. The students felt so special and honored to have such a distinguished group travel so far to come visit. I was blown away by the group’s generosity and desire to create meaningful relationships with our students and so many genuine connections emerged that will have a lasting impact on our students, alumni, and college,” said Associate Professor Laura Miller, who is director of CCI Global Programs.
Along with Dillman, sophomore Serenity Jackson was the other student Prewett’s scholarship supported to attend the trip; both are Communication Studies majors.
A crucial part of the Dublin program is about getting students out into the city on their own to observe what everyday people there are like, noting the cultural differences and similarities whether it be in communication or other aspects, Jackson said. Both students said exploring a foreign city on their own was a step outside their comfort zone that was initially intimidating but, in the end, gave them a confidence they didn’t previously have. It’s exactly this type of experience that Prewett said she wants the students to have.
“The students were just so hungry and so happy, and it reminded me how to continually be open to new experiences and learning by seeing them for the first time figuring out their way around a transit system in a new city and that sort of thing, it was really fascinating,” she said.
When she was half-way through what was supposed to be a year-long exchange program in the Netherlands, Prewett’s family ran out of funds to continue supporting the trip. This is just one reason she wanted to fund a scholarship for CCI’s global programs. But the other reasons are just as important: to give students exposure to the rest of the world, an opportunity to learn in a new environment and culture, and to make lasting connections with others.
“Thanks to social media, I’m still friends with everyone I studied with, and we get together every couple of years in another country. We’re going to start an exchange program for our kids to go visit each other in France, Sweden, Denmark, and the Netherlands,” she said.
Prewett’s scholarship was a relief to both Jackson and Dillman, who had planned on working or fundraising to find the additional funds they needed for the trip. It took pressure off both of them to just go and enjoy the trip and not worry about the finances.
“They college put so much into making it accessible to everybody financially and I think that helps so much,” Jackson said.
Both students said it was fantastic to meet Prewett, who they say was having just as good of a time as they were in Ireland. They were also impressed with her resume and interested in her field, as she currently serves as a president of DC Public Affairs and managing director at SKDK, a public affairs and political consulting firm.
Prewett said she had always thought she’d be a journalist, but after a brief stint writing headlines for the Tennessean, she found herself working in political campaigns and for the Tennessee General Assembly. Then, after earning a master’s degree in political management at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., the tone was set for the rest of her career.
As for the Ireland trip, Prewett said she had a wonderful time and she thinks it was “brilliant” that the college invited alumni to attend. Seeing her financial support play out in real life made it even more meaningful and emphasized the importance of such donations.
“Their sincere ‘thank yous’ brought tears to my eyes for sure—they were literally saying ‘I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you.’ And that was just the best gift I could ever be given. They felt like they got a gift, I felt like I got a better gift,” she said. “I want every alum to give, give, give, and have this same feeling.”
Alumna Cecelia Prewett Sees Her Study Abroad Scholarship Impact by Joining Ireland Trip written by Hillary Tune and originally published on the College of Communication & Information site.