MANSFIELD – Eden Stanfield will soon leave on a big adventure.
The 16-year-old St. Peter’s High School student will spend a month in the Dominican Republic studying the Spanish language and culture after earning a full scholarship from the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE), a nonprofit organization promoting international education and exchange.
Stanfield will stay with a family in the Dominican Republic from June 10 to July 8.
“I’ll be living there with them, eating their food, listening to their music. It’s full immersion,” she said.
Stanfield learned about the CIEE study abroad program by joining Interlocal, a Mansfield-based nonprofit organization with a three-pronged program meant to introduce 9th through 12th graders to international enrichment and civic engagement opportunities via presentations, site visits and international trips.
“Eden and her family expressed interest in international study almost immediately,” said Interlocal founder and director, Allison Bates. “They were able to appreciate early on the benefits of this kind of experience and were eager to learn more about the scholarship opportunities Interlocal presented.”
The nonprofit doesn’t lead or fund any of the international trips, but Bates provides advice and connections for the students interested in study abroad opportunities.
“While international study is not an obligatory component of participation in the Interlocal experience, it is encouraged,” Bates said. “Interlocal maintains relationships with renowned third party student travel providers, many of whom offer scholarships to students who would not otherwise be able to afford the experience.”
Two of the three students in the pilot program expressed interest, but only Stanfield received full funding for a program.
Stanfield first knew she wanted to spend more time in a Spanish-speaking country after returning from a mission trip to Mexico in 2015 with her mother and other members of Mosaic Church.
She returned to Mexico in 2016 for a second mission trip, but still wanted more.
“I thought it’d be cool to come back and stay for a while, to know Spanish and to be fluent in Spanish,” Stanfield said.
When applying for CIEE funding, she initially hoped to visit Barcelona, but recognizing the competitiveness of that program, she opted to apply for the one based in the Dominican Republic.
She found out in March that she received the scholarship for $4,700. The only expense not covered is airfare.
Since then, Stanfield has prepared with modules through the CIEE and slowly gathered items she’ll need for the trip.
“They prepare you really well, from what kind of charger converter you need to how to pronounce the name of the place you’re going,” Stanfield said.
This will be her first time navigating an airport or in another country without her parents, which she admits is a concern.
“The unknown about everything is intimidating, but it’s also exciting to have this opportunity,” Stanfield said.
She is the daughter of Matthew and Amanda Stanfield. The teen has six siblings – four brothers and two sisters.
Eden Stanfield just completed her sophomore year at St. Peter’s High School, where she plays soccer and runs track. She intends to study sports medicine after high school.
Students interested in Interlocal can apply by visiting gointerlocal.org/students Parents, school administrators, teachers and others with questions can reach out via gointerlocal.org/contact or at gointerlocal@gmail.com.
