Linfield College sophomore Austin Browning will develop a more global view of the world when he studies in Hong Kong after earning the Stemler Study Abroad Scholarship.
Browning, a biology major and chemistry minor from Boise, Idaho, received the award from the Alpha Lambda Delta National Honor Society, which recognizes academic achievement among first-year students. Students who earn a GPA of at least 3.5 in their first year and are in the top 20 percent of the first-year class are eligible for membership the remainder of their Linfield education. The Stemler Study Abroad Scholarship gives $1,000 to 20 members of Alpha Lambda Delta nationwide who are pursuing a study abroad program for credit.
“All of us in Alpha Lambda Delta push each other to do more and be better,” said Browning. “We prioritize our time in order to really give back to the community through different volunteering programs.”
Browning will travel to Hong Kong for the 2015 spring semester. He said Hong Kong was the most relevant location for him to study abroad because it will allow him to take science courses and pursue his passion for international communications.
“What I love about Hong Kong is that it is so diverse, people of all different backgrounds and cultures exist in one place,” said Browning. “By going there I feel like I am getting the most out of my experience. I won’t only be studying biology, but I will also be studying the many cultures and types of people that all ended up in Hong Kong.”
Browning feels equipped to deal with the challenges he may be presented while in Hong Kong. He is a research assistant for the biology department, lead peer advisor, Alpha Lambda Delta volunteer chair, admission ambassador and member of the speech and debate team. He is able to juggle his heavy course and work load at Linfield by staying organized and valuing free time. He strives to make the most out of his time in college by being active on campus.
“I think that my involvement in all of these activities has prepared me to go abroad,” said Browning. “Thanks to the liberal arts education, I not only feel confident in my science-related knowledge, but I also have the ability to write and communicate with people who have different interests. Communication is crucial in a foreign country.”
Browning is the son of Mark and Kym Browning of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, formerly of Boise. Following his graduation from Linfield, he hopes to attend medical school and work for an international health organization.
