The Scott Shively Memorial Scholarship & Golf Invitational

by Stephanie Pund and Bruce Shively
 

The CU Education Abroad team is so grateful to those who are able to support students through scholarships, making study abroad accessible to as many students as possible. We would like to highlight in particular the Scott Shively Memorial Scholarship, which honors the memory of a past study abroad student.
 
Scott Shively graduated from CU in 2006 with a degree in International Relations, and loved to ski, hike, and play basketball during his time here in Boulder. One of the main reasons Scott chose to study at CU was the opportunity to go abroad. Although he had traveled to Europe previously, his study abroad program, with its focus on Social Justice, international travel, and hands-on learning was an exceptional experience in his life. While abroad, he visited the U.N. and Red Cross in Geneva, and developed increased self-confidence in his abilities to move among different people and cultures with ease. He was remarkably transformed by his study abroad experience.
 
Thus, it was no surprise that after graduation, Scott continued his international experience by completing his Masters in International Political Theory at the University of Edinburgh, followed by teaching English in China. It was there in China where Scott met and married his wife, a testament to his connection to his new home abroad!
 
The Scott Shively Memorial Scholarship, run by Scott’s parents Bruce and Bonnie Shively, was initially the brainchild of Jess Brown, one of Scott’s best friends on his study abroad program in Geneva, Switzerland. Jess stepped forward after Scott’s death in 2013 to collaborate with Scott’s parents to create a scholarship in his memory. The fund has supported six CU students who shared Scott’s desire to expand their knowledge of themselves and the world through studying abroad, and is a wonderful legacy for Scott’s life. The recipients have studied (or will soon study) in Switzerland, South Africa, Thailand, Peru and the Netherlands, focusing on areas of study that include social justice, gender/sexuality issues, indigenous peoples, globalization, sustainable development, and social change. Their experiences have been no less life-changing than Scott’s, thanks to the support they received from this scholarship.
 
In 2014, Scott’s family and friends organized what would become an annual summer golf tournament in Scott’s memory in Issaquah, WA. Not only a great way to connect with Scott’s friends of all ages and have fun (plus win prizes!), the outing has served as a fundraising vehicle for the scholarship at CU. It is now in its fifth year and will be held on August 8, 2018. Bruce and Bonnie Shively are so pleased to have the opportunity to share Scott’s story and would love to hear from all of you as well! If you would like to share your experiences abroad and how they have impacted you please email them to: alumniea@colorado.edu, and if you would like to contribute to the scholarship fund to help other students go abroad, click here to donate. The Shivelys would also love to welcome anyone in the Seattle area who would be interested in participating in this year’s golf outing! For information on the Golf Outing, please contact Callie Brady at calliebrady22@gmail.com.