As summer ends and the school year begins, we at Ariventures Abroad are thrilled to share some exciting news. After months of working to organize, launch, and publicize the Ambrose Conrad McAuley (ACM) Scholarship, we are proud to introduce our Fall 2024 Cohort.
The ACM Scholarship was created to help Black students pursue their graduate studies abroad. Our goal is to support diversity and inclusion in higher education to challenge negative stereotypes and promote equal access to academia.
Firstly, we would like to say a huge thank you to all our generous donors and applicants. Without you, the ACM Scholarship would not have been possible. To our donors, we hope you will see and appreciate the impact of your contributions. To our applicants, we have enjoyed learning about you, and we wish you the best of luck in both your personal and professional pursuits.
We are excited to announce that our scholarship recipients are not just receiving financial support, but are also becoming Ariventures Abroad ambassadors. This role comes with various benefits and responsibilities that will enhance their academic journey and future career:
- Lifelong Membership: Our recipients gain access to an exclusive community of like-minded individuals, fostering connections that will last beyond their studies.
- One-on-One Mentorship: Our recipients will have access to an experienced mentor who will provide invaluable guidance and support throughout their academic and professional journey.
- Job Placement: We leverage our extensive network to help our ambassadors secure job opportunities after graduation.
- Networking Opportunities: Regular events and communication, both virtual and in-person, allow our ambassadors to connect with industry leaders and fellow scholars from around the world.
- Giving Back: As part of their role, ambassadors will have the opportunity to inspire and mentor future scholars, contributing to the growth and success of the ACM Scholarship Program.
Now, let’s meet this year’s Ariventures Abroad’s ACM Scholarship recipients and ambassadors.
Khadajah Senegal Muhammad
Khadajah Muhammad was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Pittsburgh where she received a bachelor’s degree in political science, while minoring in the Administration of Justice and achieving a global studies certificate in Peace, Conflict, and Security Studies. She has a passion and a commitment to positive social impact for marginalized communities both locally and internationally. Khadajah continually works to be the change she wants to see in the world. She enjoys spending time volunteering with international NGOs and local nonprofits that focus on increasing human services and quality of life. She has interned with the Virtual Student Federal Service with USAID. She completed the Coro Fellowship in the Public Affairs program and worked in IT in the private sector for a philanthropy-focused consulting company. Her languages include intermediate Spanish and novice Arabic. Additionally, she is a 2024 Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Graduate Fellow and is completing a master’s program at the John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Bologna, Italy.
Connect with Khadajah on LinkedIn
Kenneth Butler
Kenneth Butler is a passionate actor and director from Atlanta, Georgia. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Performance from Columbus State University and is currently pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Acting at the Guildford School of Acting in Guildford, England. Kenny is committed to increasing representation and accessibility in the arts, particularly for minority communities. He has led initiatives such as Theatre of Color, which raised awareness for diversity in theatre, and currently serves as the International Student Representative at GSA. He aims to create a traveling theatre company that reimagines classic works through minority perspectives and develops new experimental projects that inspire and uplift marginalized communities. Kenny believes that theatre has the power to invoke positive change and is dedicated to expanding the scope of minority representation both on stage and in the classroom. This scholarship will enable Kenny to continue his studies, reduce his financial burden, and further his mission to create theatre that inspires and uplifts marginalized voices.
Connect with Kenneth on LinkedIn
Jamie-Lukas Campbell
Jamie-Lukas Campbell is a PhD researcher at Queen’s University Belfast, in Northern Ireland, where his work explores the intersection of Blackness and queerness within the US military, focusing on the lasting impact of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell on Black queer service members. Originally from New York, Jamie-Lukas’s research seeks to center the experiences of Black queer Americans, challenging traditional narratives in public policy and history. In addition to his research, he created the TUS initiative—a project aimed at driving conversations around leadership, equity, and inclusion within both academic spaces and the wider community.
Connect with Jamie-Lukas on LinkedIn
Once again, congratulations to our ACM Scholarship recipients, Khadajah, Kenneth, and Jamie-Lukas. Their achievements and dedication to promote racial and social justice by positively impacting both their community and society have set them apart. We are excited to support their academic and personal growth and see all the incredible things they accomplish. We hope you will join us and stay tuned for more content featuring our ACM Scholarship recipients.
xx,
Ariventures Abroad Team