With hands raised, 11 freshman business students in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Business recited the Oath of Global Citizenship as they were inducted as the second cohort of International Business Distinguished Scholars.

The program consists of international business majors with a minimum 3.5 GPA who are looking to expand their international prowess.

Students in the program are required to participate in undergraduate research, complete an international internship and study abroad twice, in a 13-week program and together as a cohort. They must also participate in the International Business Medallion Program, designed for business students to expand their international education. Each scholar receives a $5,000 scholarship to study abroad.

“The Distinguished Scholars program was designed to create a community of students passionate about international business,” said J. Kalu Osiri, director of the international business program and associate professor of practice in management. “Throughout the program, they learn how to critically think to solve difficult problems, improve their writing skills and utilize different methods of data analysis through their research. The students form a special bond with their fellow scholars. They open up and share ideas and learn from each other.”

Scholars also get matched up with mentors from different companies around the world.

Chandra Schwab, lecturer of international business who helps coordinate the program, matches students with mentors she believes can provide insight to students looking to work abroad.

“The mentors we pair with scholars show a lot of enthusiasm getting to work with the students, some even taking on two students at one time,” Schwab said. “Mentors can range from someone far along in their career to those just starting to move up. What’s important to us is they give the students context about working abroad in other countries.”

Osiri said he believes students in the Distinguished Scholars program push the international business program to new heights.

“Our international business major turns 30 this year, an accomplishment not many programs around the U.S. can say. Throughout those years, we developed strong partnerships with elite programs around the world, such as Oxford and Senshu University. This program is another step we have taken to show we are a globally minded college,” he said. “These students engage with faculty, mentors and companies around the globe, all outside of the classroom. This engagement supports the work they do on real-life projects in other countries, and helps them become immersed in another culture. We believe that level of engagement, along with their global leadership and cross-cultural management skills, will help them turn into the future leaders of communities all over the world.”

Learn more about the international business program.

The 2018 International Business Distinguished Scholars are:

NEBRASKA:

• Bennington: Hayden Richardson

• Hastings: Samuel Waechter-Cass

• Lincoln: Olivia Coffey and Jessica Ha

• Omaha: Taylor Hogan and Jack Straka

ELSEWHERE:

• Denver, Colorado: Sophia Otte

• Parker, Colorado: Andrew Psaltis

• Clearwater, Florida: Isabella Kloppel

• Eagan, Minnesota: Samantha Sogge

• Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: Quan Nguyen