Rising junior awarded national study abroad scholarship

McDaniel College rising junior John Mendenhall is looking forward to having a deeper understanding of Middle Eastern culture after being awarded a national study abroad scholarship.

Mendenhall of Bethesda, Md., has been awarded a James G. Stemler Study Abroad Scholarship from Alpha Lambda Delta. The undergraduate scholarship, which is in the amount of $2,000, is for the 2021-22 academic year.

A member of McDaniel’s chapter of the Alpha Lambda Delta (First Year Seminar) national honor society who was inducted in 2020, Mendenhall is a History major at McDaniel and has a special interest in Middle Eastern history.

The James G. Stemler Study Abroad Scholarships are awarded to Alpha Lambda Delta members who are pursuing a credit-bearing study abroad program to enhance their academic studies. Mendenhall is planning to travel to Morocco and Southern Spain this upcoming year during McDaniel’s January Term, a three-week session that allows students and faculty to explore new areas and expand their intellectual horizons with specially-designed courses.

“I am taking this trip over my college's January Term in order to become immersed in, and therefore achieve a deeper understanding of, Arab culture,” John Mendenhall said.

This will be Mendenhall’s second study tour during January Term. In 2020, he participated in McDaniel’s Study Tour of Egypt. With visits to historical sites like the pyramids, the Valley of the Kings, synagogues, churches and mosques, students are immersed in the history and culture of Egypt.

Mendenhall also was selected in 2020 as part of the college’s Global Fellows program, a three-year program that is open to freshmen and is designed to enhance their understanding of global issues, develop heightened intercultural competency and cultivate the skills and attitudes important to leading successful lives in a global context. Students earn a Global Fellow designation on their transcript upon completion of the program. At McDaniel, Mendenhall is involved in three student organizations, including the Hispano-Latinx Alliance, Africa's Legacy, and Sister to Sister, in addition to serving as a peer mentor in the Honors Program.

Alpha Lambda Delta has awarded 20 national scholarships each academic year. The awards are named in honor of Dr. James G. Stemler, who served the National Council of Alpha Lambda Delta for more than 14 years. In addition to his dedicated service on the Council, Dr. Stemler was an active chapter advisor for the University of Portland. Dr. Stemler has been a vocal proponent and promoter of international study. Alpha Lambda Delta recognizes the importance of educational experiences outside of the United States and is committed to helping its membership develop a more global view of the world.

The Alpha Lambda Delta (First Year Seminar) national honor society at McDaniel recognizes students who completed their first year at McDaniel with a 3.7 grade point average (GPA) or higher. Its mission is to encourage superior academic achievement, promote intelligent living and continued high standards and to assist students in recognizing and developing meaningful goals for their roles in society.