From Scholarship to Service: Empowering Future Leaders Through Global Experience

Each year, the McBride Center for International Business helps turn global dreams into reality for business students at Baylor through the McBride Abroad Scholarship and the McBride Ambassador Program. These two initiatives work hand in hand to expand access to international education while building a culture of peer mentorship and global curiosity within Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business (HSB).

Opening Doors to Global Opportunity

The McBride Abroad Scholarship is designed to reduce the financial burden that often comes with studying abroad, allowing more students to gain firsthand experience in international business. 

“Scholarships can cover expenses such as tuition and program fees, which often include accommodations, cultural excursions, translators and company visits,” said Dawn Carlson, PhD, director of the McBride Center for International Business. “The cost of studying abroad can be a real barrier. Our goal is to support students who demonstrate financial need and who are also committed to giving back by inspiring others to study abroad.”

In 2025, the McBride Center awarded scholarships to 31 students, distributing a total of $151,000 in funds. Individual awards ranged from $2,500 to $8,500, depending on the program’s cost and alignment with McBride’s strategic objectives – such as encouraging global internships.

Hudson Graber, a current Entrepreneurship and Corporate Innovation senior, credits the McBride Abroad Scholarship with making his study abroad experience in South Africa possible. For him, the opportunity was more than just travel; it was a chance to engage deeply with global business practices and broaden his perspective.

“The McBride Abroad Scholarship provides exposure to different business cultures worldwide,” Graber said. “The scholarship gave me the financial ability to travel to South Africa, create unforgettable memories and have invaluable meetings with companies in another culture. This trip led me to the belief that everyone needs to experience a cross-cultural context at some point in their lives.”

Expanding the Impact: The McBride Ambassador Program

Created as a peer-led initiative within HSB, the McBride Ambassador Program allows study abroad returnees, particularly McBride Abroad Scholarship recipients, to “pay it forward” by promoting global opportunities to their classmates.

“Our mission is to inspire Baylor Business students to pursue international experiences by equipping ambassadors to promote global learning opportunities across the Business School,” said Christina Iluzada, PhD, HSB’s global learning coordinator. 

Ambassadors serve for at least one semester following their international experience, participating in classroom presentations, student organization meetings, and events such as Worldwide Wednesdays, the Global Business Expo and Joint Interest Meetings. They also engage in outreach via social media and informal peer conversations, sharing personal stories and helping others better understand how to pursue study abroad opportunities.

“Ambassadors help demystify the study abroad process for other business students,” Iluzada said. “When a peer talks about how they completed a marketing internship in Dublin or studied supply chain in Indonesia, it becomes easier for someone else to imagine doing it too.” 

The Benefits of Being a McBride Ambassador

In return for their service, ambassadors receive a T-shirt, free meals at training events, monthly grab-and-go lunches and résumé-worthy experience in global peer engagement. They are also joining a supportive community of globally minded student leaders.

Raine Gonzales, a current Finance and Management senior, participated in the Baylor Business in the Mediterranean program, where she learned about international business in France, Morocco, Italy and Spain. Her experience led her to join the McBride Ambassador Program, which promotes global learning at the Business School. 

“I’ve put together flyers, advertised on social media and talked to students in my class about different programs and scholarships,” Gonzales said. “I’ve met so many amazing people who love contributing to more students studying abroad.”

All McBride Abroad Scholarship recipients are expected to serve as ambassadors, but faculty can also nominate standout students from study abroad programs to take on the role voluntarily. The program not only benefits the broader student body but also the ambassadors themselves, who gain valuable leadership, communication and public speaking experience – skills they can list on their résumés as part of their global service and professional development.

The Future of the McBride Abroad Scholarship and Ambassador Program

As funding needs grow, continued support for these programs is essential in allowing students to gain meaningful international experience, develop cross-cultural competencies and prepare for careers in an increasingly global marketplace.

“We want every student with a passion for global learning to have the opportunity to go – regardless of financial barriers,” Carlson said.

Looking ahead, the McBride Ambassador Program is poised to grow both in size and impact, expanding its reach to ensure every business student at Baylor feels empowered and equipped to pursue global learning. With scholarship recipients and ambassadors like Graber and Gonzales paying it forward, the McBride Center’s vision of global business education is not just being taught – it’s being lived, shared and passed on.

Learn how the McBride Abroad Scholarship helps students pursue transformative global experiences here. Support the McBride Abroad Scholarship here and help make these opportunities possible for more students.