Global Scholars
Equipping thoughtful Christian leaders for lifelong global learning and engagement.
The Global Scholars program prepares students to engage in the global context through spiritual, leadership, vocational, and cultural development within an academically rigorous and experientially rich cohort.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
"With the Global Scholars Program, I knew that I would get the faith and academic integration, and that was a big thing for me, to see that the Christian faith actually mattered in the classroom. I had taken a gap year after high school doing ministry, and I wrestled with the question of why should I pursue higher education when I was already making a difference in ministry? I learned in my Global Scholars Classes that if I hadn’t come here and I didn’t know the things that I’ve learned, I would be less equipped to do ministry. That was personally formative, so I now feel more ready to engage with the world. Now I know that my education is purposeful, and a lot of that came from the honors program."
— Abigail Dundore Psychology Major, Biblical Studies Minor
Program Details
The Global Scholars Program is a four-year scholarship program designed to foster global leadership through vocation and service.
Your Four-Year Experience
| Academic Year | Program Details |
|---|---|
Year 1 | Fall Semester Pre-Orientation Program COR107 The Great Conversation Global Scholars Retreat Spring Semester GHI105 Global Engagement Intercultural Events Summer International trip |
Year 2 | Fall Semester GHI203 Kingdom Ethics Global Scholars Retreat Spring Semester Global Leadership Seminar Sophomore Retreat Summer International Summer Internship |
Year 3 | Fall Semester Campus or Community Service Learning Global Scholars Retreat Spring Semester Opportunity to study abroad |
Year 4 | Fall Semester Global Scholars Retreat Spring Semester Capstone Presentation/Thesis |
Highlights
- $6,000 annual scholarship
- International travel with the college president
- Small cohort
- Annual retreats
- Intercultural engagement
- Personal formation
Qualifications
- Be a high school senior
- Minimum GPA of 3.9
- Demonstrate a desire to faithfully, creatively, and thoughtfully address significant global issues
- Demonstrate an attitude of reciprocity (listening and learning to global voices and communities) and action
Scholarship Requirement
In order to remain eligible for this scholarship, students must maintain a Gordon 3.3 GPA and active engagement with program components year to year.
Vision
Value
Provides the opportunity to travel, listen, and learn from global partners and develops students to be creative, Christian leaders in God’s kingdom. Students will meaningfully contribute to Gordon, fellow students, and the local community through thoughtful academic and community engagement.
Purpose
Growing students who are intellectually mature, having strong Christian character, committed to lives of service and prepared for Christian leadership worldwide. Students will engage and participate in the global context through an academic and experiential learning community at an honors level.
Intent
A transformational learning environment that inspires students towards a life-orienting commitment to global engagement, Christian maturity, and creative contribution in God’s kingdom through your life and vocation
Worth
Students will have an empowering, inspiring, and transformational learning experience on campus through their cohort and honors-level courses and seminars and will have the opportunity to travel and intern internationally.
International Experience
International Travel
- You will travel with your cohort and the Gordon president, faculty and staff after your freshman year at Gordon to experience, listen, and learn from the unique voices and perspectives of the community and culture.
- As you listen to global Christian leaders share the unique history and contributions of the church, you will be challenged to integrate your faith and cultivate imagination as you consider how to contribute to Christ’s kingdom as a global citizen.
International Internship
- You will be placed with a Christ-serving organization that integrates your unique interests, calling and vocation with their Kingdom work in the local community.
- You will be introduced to the global church and Christian leaders while having a practical learning experience that will shape your vision for your future vocation and service in God’s kingdom.
Intercultural Engagement
New England offers unique opportunities for global experiences in a local setting. You will have the opportunity to experience other cultures through religious worship expression, food and art, etc. throughout your four years.
Cohort
Like-minded
As a Global Scholar, you will enter your freshman year with other like-minded students who share your strong commitment to Christ, desire to learn from and about the world, and interact with some of the world’s most pressing issues and opportunities. You will study together, travel together, challenge each other, and “spur one another on to good works.” Participate in annual fall retreats with all other Global Scholars.
Mentoring
In addition to the relationships you build with your peers, you will also have an upper-class Global Scholar mentor as well as the opportunity to develop a mentoring relationship with a Global Christian Leader. These relationships will help you first, have a successful transition into college life and then second, make a successful transition into your vocation through supporting your personal, spiritual and academic growth.
Personal Formation
Academic Excellence
You will take Global Scholars courses and seminars and complete a capstone project. Global Scholars courses and seminars are designed to help you build integrative frameworks that make sense of the complex world and define your role and obligations within it.
Spiritual Maturity
You will be exposed to Christians and Christian spiritual practices from around the world through readings, lectures, retreats, and mentoring relationships in order to grow in your relationship with God and your commitment to the church.
Cultural Intelligence
You will grow as a listener and learner, expand your global awareness and perspective, and develop your leadership skills for a global context.
Kingdom Vocation
You will discern and pursue your vocational calling, consider your unique contribution to God’s purposes in pursing justice, mercy, and humility with mutual respect and love in worldwide service and leadership.
All expenses for program events including tickets, training and travel are paid for by the Global Scholars Program.