Couple’s fund supports study abroad experiences for three honors students

After spending their professional lives overseas, retired educators Arlo and Dixie Schurle wanted to ensure that honors student had access to living and learning abroad. Establishing the Schurle Family Study Abroad Fund, a “lifelong dream” for the couple, allowed them to do just that.

While the Schurles’ experiences took them to Africa and the Middle East, their fund has supported student journeys across the globe — most recently, Europe, where a trio of recipients found themselves last year.

Henry Bair, a chemical engineering major, dedicated a summer to his economics minor at the London School of Economics, “a truly international school,” as Bair described. “Looking back, it was a really big growth moment for me,” he says.

Danny Phalen took his studies to Slovenia, where the finance major learned more about the region’s business practices and the European economy overall, combining major-specific activities like visits to start-up incubators with castle tours and boating trips.

Sierra Quinn enhanced her theatre and voice degree work with a winter break study abroad program in Vienna and Prague. As Quinn said, “I was fully immersed in the history and culture that produced the operas that I actively perform.”

While the students have gained a more global perspective on their disciplines, the Schurles see the value of their time abroad beyond career development and curricular progress.

“More than a benefit to their profession, it is a benefit to their well-being and their understanding of the world,” said Dixie. “You become much less insular and more worldly.”

Since the fund’s establishment, recipient testimonials have been an unexpected but cherished consequence, said the couple. “It’s wonderful to get the descriptions from the students of what this money has helped them do,” said Arlo. “It’s exactly what we wanted.” 

“We just hope that, whatever experiences these students have, they won’t ever forget it,” added Dixie. “It will just be part of their life.”

Donors can help make study abroad experience possible for more students during One Day One KU, the university’s annual 24-hour giving event, and at any point throughout the year. Interested donors can contact Sheri Hamilton, KU Endowment’s College of Liberal Arts & Sciences team lead who oversees honors program development efforts, at shamilton@kuendowment.org or 785-832-7454.