An American student who has spent the last five months at the University of Aberdeen as part of an exchange programme has been selected by a prestigious educational body to promote Aberdeen to US students considering study abroad programmes.
Elizabeth Deimeke is a third year Biology student from Kenyon College, Ohio. The 21-year-old has been studying at Aberdeen since January this year where she completed no less than two Biology courses, a Women’s Studies course, and a Geography course. Elizabeth gained 70 credits during her demanding study schedule.
Thanks to her hard work and determination, Elizabeth has been selected by the British Council USA (BCUSA) to become a Student Ambassador for Kenyon College to promote study abroad programmes.
Student Ambassadors offer potential students who wish to study abroad an up close and personal look at what the UK has to offer. The programme was launched in 2002 to showcase the exceptional educational opportunities and cultural diversity that help make the United Kingdom the number one destination for American study abroad students. The programme was also developed as an innovative way to involve students who have recently studied at a UK university in their US university’s study abroad activities.
Elizabeth, who has just completed her third year, will bid farewell to the Granite City next week when she returns to Ohio. She said: “The thought of leaving is bittersweet.
“While I’m excited to see my family and friends from home, I know that this may be a final good-bye to some great people I’ve met here.
“But, being a Student Ambassador will give me the opportunity of sharing my experiences here in Aberdeen with students in the US in such a way that I’ll never forget the people I met here or the times I shared with them.
“One of the main reasons I chose Aberdeen is because the academic routine is very similar to the US system – I was able to study Biology as well as a variety of different disciplines which was very interesting.”
During her stay in Aberdeen, Elizabeth shared a student residence with other international students, which has proved to be one of the highlights of her experience: “I found the atmosphere in Aberdeen very sociable and friendly – I made a lot of good friends.”
Elizabeth’s role as a Student Ambassador will be to provide fellow students with first-hand information of what the University of Aberdeen, and the rest of Scotland, has to offer through regular events each semester and study abroad fairs.
She added: “I plan to set up a series of informal meetings where students can ask questions in a relaxed atmosphere with no pressure. I’d also like to go back to my former High School to meet with seniors to encourage them to think about studying abroad.”
BCUS is part of the British Council - the UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. Twenty-one student ambassadors from the US studied in England last year, eight studied in Scotland, four in Wales and one in Northern Ireland.
Students who have studied at a British university and are currently enrolled in an undergraduate US institution are eligible to become Student Ambassadors. They are selected on the basis of advisor recommendations and a demonstrated sense of maturity, responsibility and enthusiasm for the UK and their overseas study experience.
The British Council USA is the Education Department of the British Embassy in Washington, DC. The British Council, a registered charity in England and Wales, is represented in 110 countries worldwide.