French, Study Abroad Scholarships Help UMW Senior Take on the World

University of Mary Washington senior Carly Radgowski closes her eyes and pictures her friend’s rooftop in Paris, with French music playing softly as the Eiffel Tower begins to sparkle.

“In that moment, I felt such a sense of relief and gratitude,” she said, “that I could be in this beautiful place with this wonderful group of friends.”

Carly had always imagined studying abroad in France, where her mother once lived, and even attended a French immersion school for several years near her home in Vienna, Virginia. But it wasn’t until she received private donor support at UMW that her dream began to take shape — and she discovered a career path combining her French and conservation biology majors.

That path is especially fitting during International Education Week, Nov. 17–21, which provides an opportunity for colleges and universities to celebrate the value of cultural exchange through campus events. UMW’s Center for International Education (CIE) holds its own weeklong celebration in early October, with an Education Abroad Fair, student panels, and a Global Café co-sponsored by UMW Dining. The University sends between 250 and 300 students abroad each year through more than 120 approved programs in 35 locations.

For Carly, earning the Elizabeth Baylor Neatrour ’54 and Mary Ellen Stephenson Memorial Scholarship in French and the Carlos and Carol Muldoon Martel ’68 Scholarship for International Studies made studying in both Paris and Provence possible.

“Living and learning in France was suddenly just as affordable as attending Mary Washington,” said Carly, who took courses in French cinema, philosophy, and grammar while exploring Europe in her free time. She visited castles in the Loire Valley, strolled the streets of Strasbourg, and trekked to Dublin and Madrid with her father and aunt.

She also took a tandem language course abroad, speaking French with classmates who practiced English with her. “It helped me develop conversational skills and connect with students from different cultures,” she said.

Carly (right) and Hannah Anacko ’26 in El Retiro Park in Madrid. Both students, who are co-presidents of UMW’s French Language and Culture Club, studied abroad in France during their time at Mary Washington. Photo courtesy of Carly Radgowski.

Carly (right) and Brianna Kenealy ’25 attended a production of ‘I puritani’ at the Opéra Bastille during their study abroad in Paris. Photo courtesy of Carly Radgowski.

Carly and a friend she met through the MICEFA program visited Nyhavn, a historic 17th-century harbor in Copenhagen, Denmark. MICEFA (Mission Interuniversitaire de Coordination des Echanges Franco-Américains) is a nonprofit that brings together 18 French universities with over 65 partners in North America. Photo courtesy of Carly Radgowski.

Carly with a friend from the MICEFA program in Luxembourg Gardens in Paris. Photo courtesy of Carly Radgowski.

That experience has been invaluable to her work in CIE, where she serves as international student liaison, helping more than 100 degree-seeking students from other countries — as well as those visiting for a semester or a year — navigate life at Mary Washington.

“There is so much more to being a UMW student outside of academics,” said Sarah Moran, CIE’s assistant director, who earned a Fund for Mary Washington Impact Grant last spring to help cover the cost of passports for students new to studying abroad. “Carly is warm and friendly, and she understands the need for connection when a student is far from home.”

At Mary Washington, Professors Leonard Koos, Brooke diLauro, and Scott Powers have sharpened her language skills and deepened her passion for French. Their encouragement also inspired her to become co-president of the French Language and Culture Club, organizing movie nights, picnics, and crêpe-making events.

Across campus, Professors Alan Griffith, April Wynn and Andrew Dolby have provided similar support for her conservation biology major. Carly has worked in the herbarium and recorded plant data in the Jepson Science Center, and conducted research on bird species living on the Rappahannock River.

“Dr. Dolby and I explored turbidity and how it affected great blue herons and ospreys,” said Carly, who hopes to study in Francophone West Africa before attending graduate school in France, where she’ll continue her focus on conservation. “There’s a strong emphasis on sustainability in Paris, from recycling to greener transportation.”

Whether she chooses to focus on the environment or pursue other passions, she feels ready, thanks in part to UMW’s Center for Career and Professional Development, which she first visited as a sophomore.

“I’m profoundly grateful to everyone who has helped me in college,” Carly said. “I’m prepared for my next steps, whether they’re here or on the other side of the globe.”

Learn more about establishing scholarships and how private support makes a difference in the lives of UMW students who receive scholarships, research fellowships, and internship grants.

-Article written by Assistant Director of Advancement Communications Jill Graziano Laiacona ’04