Every year, Greenheart Travel awards First Time Traveler scholarships to those who want to immerse themselves in a different culture and see what life is like abroad. We want to help make travel accessible to everyone and truly believe that when you study, teach or volunteer abroad, you are embarking on a journey that will significantly impact your global perspective!
This year Greenheart is celebrating our 40th anniversary! To commemorate the occasion, Greenheart Travel will award $40,000 in scholarship funds! Thanks to our incredible partners, and thanks to everyone who applied.
Take a look at this year’s amazing winners!
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Lars
Hometown: Golden, Colorado
Program: High School Abroad – Spain
What does Greenheart Travel’s Mission, “Travel for a Change,” mean to you? “‘Travel for a Change’ is a powerful concept that resonates with me. It encapsulates the ripple effect of meaningful travel. It’s about creating positive change in the communities we visit, in the lives of those we meet, and within ourselves. It’s a reminder that travel is not just about seeing new places, but about making a difference and growing as individuals through our experiences abroad.”
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Jadie
Hometown: McKinney, Texas
Program: High School Abroad – Italy
Why is the opportunity to travel for the first time exciting for you? “I have never traveled overseas by myself. This program would be a chance for me to become more independent and less reliant on others. As a first time traveler, I am excited to make new connections, exhibit creativity and adaptability, and appreciate perspectives other than my own. Once I have arrived in my host country, I might feel out of place, but I think it is a learning experience that will push me to be a better person overall.”
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Brooklyn
Hometown: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Program: High School Abroad – Costa Rica Summer Exchange
What does Greenheart Travel’s Mission, “Travel for a Change,” mean to you? “To me, ‘Travel for a Change’ means stepping outside my comfort zone to grow as a person and expand my understanding of the world. Travel offers a unique opportunity to engage with people and cultures that are different from my own, allowing me to become more open-minded and adaptable. By studying abroad in Costa Rica, I will be able to change my perspective on both the world and my place in it.”
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Lily
Hometown: Conway, New Hampshire
Program: Teen Language Camp – Spain
Why is the opportunity to travel for the first time exciting for you? “I don’t think I can explain just how excited I am about the mere thought of being able to travel! When I first received my passport it felt like I had gained the key to a locked door. Since receiving my passport I haven’t used it but I am stunned that soon I’ll be using it to leave the country I’ve spent my whole life in. I can’t wait to be in the uncomfortable limbo of understanding and not, and being able to absorb so much at one time. I’ve never done something remotely close to this and I’m excited to feel real independence for the first time.”
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Maya Rose
Hometown: Colfax, California
Program: High School Abroad – Spain
Why is the opportunity to travel for the first time exciting for you? “I am always looking for ways to get out of my comfort zone and try new things, and traveling is one of the best ways to do that. Someone once told me that new experiences are the way to build new, creative pathways in the brain. When new pathways are formed in your brain, you are more accepting of new ideas, and are a more creative person. I have remembered that little saying all my life.”
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Eva
Hometown: Boise, Idaho
Program: High School Abroad – Italy
Why is the opportunity to travel for the first time exciting for you? “The opportunity to travel for the first time is so exciting to me because I get the chance to live with and experience new traditions and values in a typical Italian family. I know that spending a whole year abroad will open both me and my host family up to so much knowledge that one can’t get without the experience of living and dealing with it firsthand.”
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Felix (Tomek)
Hometown: Durango, Colorado
Program: Teen Language Camp Spain – Salamanca
What does Greenheart Travel’s Mission, “Travel for a Change,” mean to you? “‘Travel for a Change’ speaks to the idea of using travel as a way to connect with others, to share stories, and to build bridges between cultures. It’s not just about observing the world from a distance – it’s about becoming part of it, engaging with it, and allowing those interactions to shape you in ways that will last long after the trip ends.”
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Andrew
Hometown: Amherst, New Hampshire
Program: Teen Language Camp – Canada
Why is the opportunity to travel for the first time exciting for you? “Since I was eight years old, I’ve had a deep love for the French language. That early interest grew into a desire not just to speak French, but to live it – to experience the nuances, the culture, the daily conversations that bring the language to life. But more than that, I’ve longed to feel what it’s like to be somewhere unfamiliar, to adapt, grow, and see the world through someone else’s lens.”
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Brandon
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
Program: Teach in a Homestay – Spain
What does Greenheart Travel’s Mission, “Travel for a Change,” mean to you? I want this trip to broaden my worldview and open me up to new experiences that not only “change” who I am as a person, but help me grow into a better one. In this way, I think to “Travel for a Change” is to put aside what you think you know, fully embrace something new, and, through whatever highs and lows you experience, allow that opportunity to change you for the better. I hope to go to Madrid and become a more empathetic person by meeting new people and hearing their stories. I hope to become an overall happier person by learning what values Spanish citizens hold in high regard and upholding those values in my own life. Most of all, I hope to learn more about myself during my first time away from home as I navigate new challenges and a new city without my support network.
Learn more about Greenheart’s First Time Traveler Scholarships
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