Opening the Door to the World

Dr. Francille Firebaugh

Francille Firebaugh clearly remembers the exchange students who participated in the 4-H youth program at her high school. Later, as an undergraduate at the University of Arkansas, she became close friends with a student from India who shared details about Indian life and culture. Although Firebaugh was unable to travel abroad then, these encounters spurred her lifelong interest in international cultures.

In 1990, after Firebaugh’s 26 years as a professor and administrator at Ohio State, her friends and colleagues made personal gifts to recognize her longtime service and commitment to international studies. Firebaugh and her husband, John—a 1962 Ohio State graduate of the College of Engineering—provided matching funds, endowing study abroad opportunities for students.

The Francille M. Firebaugh Study Abroad Scholarships, administered through Ohio State’s Office of International Affairs, have benefited more than 60 scholars who have studied in such countries as Brazil, China, Argentina, Uganda, Morocco, and Russia.

“Study abroad experiences can be life changing. I find helping students achieve their goals to be gratifying,” Firebaugh said. “Through these opportunities, students may clarify future directions, improve language skills, and better understand international issues.”

Francille Firebaugh has helped more than 60 students take part in study abroad opportunities. Here, two scholarship recipients share why Firebaugh’s support was the gift of a lifetime.

Gary Bearden at St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow’s Red Square during his study abroad experience.

Gary Bearden: Russia

Did your childhood experiences influence your interest in studying abroad?
My family moved around the Midwest, then we lived in Mexico for four years before finally calling Marysville, Ohio, home toward the later part of my childhood.

How did the Firebaugh Study Abroad Scholarship help you achieve your goals?
The scholarship absolutely helped me get to where I am. I completed Ohio State’s intensive Russian language and culture program in Tomsk, Russia, during the summer of 2009. Although I had an interest in the language before the program, I was about halfway through it when I understood just how important the program would be for my future. Studying a language like Russian—in addition to the Spanish I knew and the French degree I was pursuing—has helped me expand my career horizons and personal boundaries more than I had imagined.

What are you doing now?
I graduated summa cum laude from Ohio State in spring 2011 with bachelor’s degrees in French, Russian, and international studies. Last summer, I was an intern for Ambassador Susan Rice at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations office in Washington, D.C. Since then, I have been teaching English and doing research at Baltic Federal University in Kaliningrad, Russia, as part of a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship. Later, I plan to obtain a master’s degree at Georgetown University.

Simran Khaira is pursuing a master's degree in Chinese.

Simran Khaira: China

How did the Firebaugh Study Abroad Scholarship help your studies?
I was able to go to China for the first time, which was essential as a Chinese major. I stayed in Qingdao, PRC, for two months and visited Beijing and Shanghai. Spending time in an exclusively Chinese language environment was incredibly beneficial to my language proficiency. I experienced Chinese culture and gained an understanding of life in an average Chinese city.

Do you have any memories that stand out from adventure?
I had heard that the Chinese treat each other like family—and seeing it for myself was an amazing experience. I was riding a bus that became stuck in a traffic jam. People on the sides of the road stopped what they were doing and helped to direct the traffic flow. It was incredible to see how the people actually cared about one another and were willing to help out strangers. Perhaps even more astounding is that this response seemed natural and expected.

What are you doing now?
I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Chinese in August 2010 and am now pursuing a master’s degree in Chinese. What I learned through the Firebaugh scholarship is incredibly useful today. Taking my first steps into Chinese culture prepared me to come back with open eyes to the United States to see more new things and to learn more about the people and culture.