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It鈥檚 undeniable that adventures and new experiences await those whose doors are opened to international travel, and UNH Global is helping open those doors for more students by breaking down one of the barriers that keeps them shut.听

At the MUB on April 5, UNH Global distributed free passports to 50 students as part of the听听Passport Giveaway program,听which听encourages听study abroad by听defraying听the cost of听a passport.听听

"The Passport听Giveaway program is one of听several initiatives to open opportunities to non-traditional students,"听says听Beth听Kilinc, administrative director for Education Abroad at UNH.听"The goal was to reach students who may听never听have听considered study abroad or who may not think that it is for them."听

All of the recipients听were听first-time passport holders听who have demonstrated听financial need or听come听from听a population of students typically听not听represented in听study abroad.听Students from all UNH campuses and majors were invited to apply.听During the giveaway event,听recipients met with听passport agents听to finalize their applications, talked with UNH advisors听about study abroad options and scholarships听and left with听holders for their shiny new passports, which will arrive in the coming weeks.听听

Recipients pointed out how smooth the experience was, from听applying to be considered听to having their application documents checked by agents.听听

Theatre major听Morgan Simmons '19 says she听would have been听nervous about filling out听the听government forms correctly,听but听staff walked听her听through the process,听鈥渕aking it very easy,鈥� she says.听"In the last meeting,听when we mailed out the paperwork, they made you feel so celebrated."听

UNH Global had听provided听each recipient听with a coupon to听have a听free听passport photo听taken听at听Thompson Hall听prior to the event. 鈥淲e wanted to have the whole process right here on campus for students,听to make sure each step was easy and accessible to all,鈥澨齂ilinc听says."听

The new passport holders听were encouraged to set up an听appointment with a UNH study abroad counselor to further explore their opportunities.听Education Abroad program manager听Catherine听D'Auteuil听says听the passports are听not just for听students planning to go abroad through UNH.听鈥淪ome have spoken of wanting to go to somewhere closer听鈥μ齱hich is just as great. If this encourages听and helps听students get to any new place and new experiences at any time, then we're moving towards our goal," says听D'Auteuil.听听

Another recipient, civil engineering major听Christopher Looney '21,听says, 鈥淚鈥檝e听always wanted to go to Canada,听and didn't think I'd be able to so soon, but now I can."听

Since U.S. passports last 10 years before expiring,听Kilinc听says that even if students aren't able to travel right away, the documents are "opening up a decade of possibilities for Wildcats to study, live, work and travel abroad,鈥� she says. 鈥淗aving a passport is a tangible symbol and critical first step towards international travel and experiences."听

Simmons didn't think she would ever apply for a passport because no one in her immediate family had one, and she听wasn鈥檛 sure听it was听something she听needed. "Now,鈥� she says, 鈥淚 feel like the world is at my feet,听and I can't wait to go see it."听听

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