25 years of the Robert Eller Study Abroad Scholarship
25 years of the Robert Eller Study Abroad Scholarship
The chance to study abroad can be transformative, offering an immersive journey through new languages, cultures and environments while building personal growth.
For Olivia Brunsting, who studied abroad in 2023, the experience held an even greater significance. Adopted from South Korea and raised in northwest Iowa, it marked her first return to her birth country.
“There are so many things that I miss — from the food and karaoke to the friends I made there,” she shared. “But I try to cherish the memories, knowing it was such a unique experience that can’t be recreated.” She plans to return as soon as possible.
For 25 years, the Robert Eller Study Abroad Scholarship has enabled such life-changing experiences for UNI students. Established in 1999, it has since supported 105 students, sending them to 21 countries, according to the Cedar Falls Community Foundation, which manages the fund.
“Studying abroad doesn’t just transform the student, it sends ripples of change back to their community,” said Sally Kleiss Timmer, executive director of the foundation. “The knowledge, perspectives and experiences they gain abroad become seeds for innovation, understanding and progress, enriching their local culture and broadening its worldview.”
Forever Enriching Lives
Robert Eller, an audio/visual instructor at UNI for 30 years, retired in 1991 and established the scholarship in 1999, supporting it throughout his life and leaving a generous bequest upon his death in 2016.
Eller’s legacy lives on through the scholarship, offering UNI students profound learning experiences. Joan Duea, ‘59, a colleague and friend, fondly remembered his passion for engaging in lively travelogues in the faculty lounge. Eller’s extensive travels often included living with locals to fully immerse himself in new cultures.
“He was a great listener and an even better questioner,” Duea recalled. “Knowing how life-changing travel had been for him, Bob created one of the greatest gifts for UNI undergrads, many of whom are first-generation college students with limited travel experience.”
“His gift will forever enrich the lives of students,” she added.
Stephanie Rojas, director of the UNI Study Abroad Center, noted that scholarships like Eller’s ease financial burdens, allowing students to fully engage in their educational experience and develop invaluable skills.
Adam Vig, a history education major, counts his semester abroad as one of his most formative experiences. Through the Eller Scholarship, the Mount Vernon native experienced South Africa’s vibrant cities, natural beauty and wildlife.
Vig also volunteered with underprivileged children through the Missionvale Care Center in Port Elizabeth, an experience he believes will impact his future classroom.
“Donors help people achieve their goals and live better lives,” Vig said, adding that the Eller scholarship allowed him to experience something truly special.
South Korea
Olivia Brunsting, an English major, returned for the first time to the country of her birth thanks to the Eller Scholarship. The experience taught her more about Korean culture and gave her a new sense of confidence in herself and her ability to connect with people from other cultures.
About the Robert Eller Scholarship
The UNI Study Abroad Center, in partnership with the Cedar Falls Community Foundation, is proud to offer students the opportunity to apply for the Robert Eller Scholarship each semester. This scholarship has been established to foster the educational, professional, and personal growth of an undergraduate student at the University of Northern Iowa by providing scholarship funds to assist with the cost of a semester or year of study outside the U.S. to a student whose previous travel and study experiences abroad have been limited. Award amounts are approximately $5,000 and the number of scholarships awarded varies.
