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AIFS Abroad is committed to sustainability, environmental responsibility, and climate action. As part of our Green Initiative, we are proud to offer the Green Ambassador Scholarship to participants who share our passion for creating a greener future.
AIFS Abroad Green Ambassador scholarship recipients are expected to collaborate with their on-site staff to plan and execute at least one “green” event during their program. This event should promote sustainability and climate education and awareness. Recipients will also be involved in sustainability-related content creation.
Read on to learn more about the Summer 2025 cohort of AIFS Abroad Green Ambassadors:
Candace Cardwell, West Virginia University
AIFS Abroad in Athens, Greece | Study Abroad Program
Major: Global Supply Chain Management
What does it mean to you to be a Green Ambassador?
“Being a Green Ambassador means leading by example in making sustainable choices, inspiring others to reduce their environmental impact, and advocating for an overall healthier planet!”
How will this experience abroad tie back into your everyday life after you return from your program?
“My experience abroad in Athens, Greece will strengthen my adaptability and deepen my appreciation for history, food, and different ways of life. I hope to bring back a greater sense of independence, new friendships, and a fresh outlook that will shape how I approach challenges, opportunities, and everyday experiences at home.”
Carlos Castro, University of Kentucky
AIFS Abroad in Florence, Italy | Study Abroad Program
Major: Psychology
What does it mean to you to be a Green Ambassador?
“Being a Green Ambassador means having the chance to learn about sustainability in a deeper way and share that knowledge with others. It’s a way for me to take action and show that even small steps can lead to meaningful change.”
How will this experience abroad tie back into your everyday life after you return from your program?
“This experience will give me new ideas and inspiration to live more sustainably in my daily life. I’ll use what I learn to start conversations, support local efforts, and continue making a positive impact at home.”
Katherine Villandry, College of Charleston
AIFS Abroad European Art and Culture Program | Study + Travel
Major: Communication
What does it mean to you to be a Green Ambassador?
“As a Green Ambassador, my mission is to start conversations and educate my peers on the importance of implementing sustainable attitudes and actions in our lives. I hope to share my experience and expose others to sustainability in a setting where they might not come across it.”
How will this experience abroad tie back into your everyday life after you return from your program?
“I will analyze diverse cultural practices with a sustainability perspective while also immersing myself in those practices. I look forward to bringing home new environmental knowledge and hope to apply it to my day-to-day life at the College of Charleston.”
Ava Caughron, Texas A&M University
AIFS Abroad in Barcelona, Spain | Internship Program
Major: Business Honors and Management Consulting
What does it mean to you to be a Green Ambassador?
“To me, being a Green Ambassador means advocating for action within our food system. Thus creating a bridge in global perspective and education that spurs people towards change.”
How will this experience abroad tie back into your everyday life after you return from your program?
“I am using this time abroad to broaden my perspective on international cultures and transform school knowledge into life wisdom. I hope that upon my return, I will have gained new insight and experiences that will shape my future decisions and deepened my understanding of the world and its people!”
In response to the overwhelming global climate crisis, AIFS Abroad has made sustainability a key priority when considering organizational, operational, and programming decisions. We understand that the only way to effectively combat this crisis and mitigate the effects of climate change is to drastically reduce our environmental impact. Therefore, we’ve committed to reaching carbon neutrality.
Our Green Initiative has three pillars:
- Green Business that includes auditing our own business practices and our program partners to reduce our consumption of finite resources and limiting our carbon footprint.
- Sustainability Education for both our program participants, through onsite engagement with local environmental projects, and within our industry as a leader in our field.
- Offsetting Carbon Emissions by purchasing verified carbon credits for all our program participants round trip flights to their program location.