Study-Abroad Scholarships & Local Student Outreach Activities
The Savannah Council on World Affairs Scholarships:
SCWA Scholarships are designed to help undergraduate students from the Greater Savannah Area who are participating in one of their university's study-abroad programs. Applicants must have been accepted into a study-abroad program, meet SCWA's academic criteria, and have a verifiable financial need. Academic coordinators at our local universities screen prospective candidates and provide recommendations to the SCWA Board of Directors.
SCWA Scholarships enable qualified students to pursue an overseas educational experience by supporting the cost of their travel and living expenses while abroad. Our goal is to award as many stipends as our funds allow each year, and your contributions to our Scholarship and Outreach Fund enable us to sustain this high level of assistance.
In addition, since 2025 SCWA has greatly expanded its Student Outreach Activities, which exemplify our ongoing commitment to support college and high-school student activities that take place locally, but similarly stimulate greater student awareness and a deeper understanding of world affairs. Below is an outline of recent activities, which are also financially supported through the SCWA Scholarship and Outreach Fund.
Student Scholars Program:
In September 2026, SCWA nominated Jorge Millan Merchan, a Georgia Southern Univeristy Student, for the World Affairs Councils of America’s Student Scholars Program. Each year, the WACA program selects 25 undergraduates to attend a national conference in Washington, D.C., featuring visits to think tanks, embassies, and international organizations. These experiences help students shape their global goals and advance their education and careers. WACA covers most travel and hotel costs, and SCWA funds the rest.
Congratulations to Jorge Millan Merchan!
We're proud to share that Jorge has been selected for the World Affairs Councils of America's 2026 Student Scholars Program. Jorge graduated from H.V. Jenkins High School in Savannah, and has participated in the Model Arab League and Model United Nations programs at GSU. He was chosen from a highly competitive pool of applicants from across the U.S. and will head to Washington, D.C. this November for the WACA National Conference, where Student Scholars receive customized programming to expand their knowledge, build their networks, and grow as leaders.
Congratulations, Jorge — the Savannah Council is cheering you on!
Diplomacy Simulation Programs:
The Model United Nations and Model Arab League are academic simulation programs and competitive extracurricular activities where students role-play as diplomats representing different countries to debate global issues. Programs like these help students develop skills such as public speaking, research, writing, diplomacy and collaboration.
Many public and private high schools in Chatham County have Model UN teams that want to compete and strengthen their skills, but opportunities to compete locally and the financial resources to do so are limited. SCWA encourages the development of regional competitions and supports these local events by offsetting some of the costs.
During the 2026–2027 school year, SCWA will partially fund the Model Arab League to help reduce student costs. SCWA is also partnering with Richmond Hill High School and Benedictine Military Academy to help fund two local multi-school competitions. With generous donor support, SCWA hopes to eventually fund four to six local Model UN competitions annually.
High School Civics and Foreign Policy Essay Competition:
During the 2026–2027 school year, SCWA also plans to launch a high school essay competition challenging students to explain how U.S. law and the Constitution influence foreign policy decisions. Winners will receive cash prizes and present their papers at an awards ceremony, where they can inspire their peers.
Below are photos of college and high-school students voting in one of the Model Arab League committees at the recent MAL Conference at Georgia Southern University, Savannah State University students with local representatives on their study-abroad program in Ghana, and some of the members of the Herschel V. Jenkins High School MUN team in North Carolina.
