USA Journalism Student Wins $20,000 Fellowship to Buenos Aires
Posted on June 9, 2025
When Abby Russ got off the plane in Barcelona last year for a 12-week study abroad program, she was taking her first steps toward a dream career.
Now, just months after her return to the U.S., the journalism major has earned the Council on International Educational Exchange Leading Change in Latin America Fellowship, one of the highest national honors for students with a global vision.
Russ is one of just 32 students in the nation to be selected for the award, which covers full tuition and travel for the Fall 2025 semester in several locations throughout Latin America – in her case, Buenos Aires, Argentina – for 20 weeks, beginning this summer and ending in December. Her award package totals nearly $20,000.
During her time abroad, she will participate in an academic and cultural immersion program with opportunities to travel, volunteer and engage with local communities.
It’s the next phase of a mission sparked by a side trip during her Barcelona Study Abroad Experience, where she lived with a local Barcelona family and interned at a magazine.
“In Morocco, we were able to travel from their capital city to small villages, meeting locals along the way,” said Russ. “Our conversations about their country, beliefs and ways of life permanently changed my perspective and broadened it to a level beyond what I could believe.
“It made me understand just how much cultural differences can affect a mindset and way of life. It inspired me to keep traveling to be educated on the many cultures in our world and to celebrate and experience them personally.”
For years before that adventure, she had scrolled through the social media accounts of students traveling the world, taking particular note of their photos. While the written word is her first medium, she picked up a camera and began a visual journey, sharing photos of pieces of culture she found along the way.
Her time in Spain opened her eyes to how much diversity can exist in one country. She was surprised to learn that Spain has six official languages and multiple cultural regions, each with its own identity. That realization stuck with her and shaped the four-minute video that helped her win the Council on International Educational Exchange fellowship.
“I talked about challenging the broad stereotypes about Latin America and advocating instead for storytelling that honors each country’s unique traditions and perspectives,” she said of her video entry.
Now, she’s gearing up for her next journey: five months in Argentina, living in a shared apartment — allowing her more travel flexibility — and exploring the country’s wide geographic and cultural range. With plans to also visit neighboring Chile, Russ is building a portfolio and worldview that will serve her well as a journalist and a global citizen.
She’s doing it all while serving as an International Education Ambassador for the USA’s Office of International Education, where she helps others explore their own opportunities abroad.
“Abby exemplifies South’s international goals,” said Bri Ard, executive director of global engagement. “She is a thoughtful, driven student on a mission to see the world, share its stories and encourage others to step outside their comfort zones. We are enormously proud of her.”
In her junior year, Russ has already decided on a career as a travel journalist, but not one who explores luxurious destinations. She wants to share what is happening in the real world.
“The world is so big, and we don’t know enough about it,” she said. “I want to share what I learn with as many people as possible. Immersing myself in the cultures I experience is the first step.”
