Fewer than 1/2 of 1% of minority college students study abroad. EcoPassports has partnered with the national student agriculture organization, MANRRS, to help remedy that. EcoPassports is devoted to study abroad, global citizenship and the life-changing opportunities that come about when people of different places and cultures unite. We are committed to empowering world communities, local economic development, and sustainable land practices through the growing legion of global student citizens. EcoPassports has developed a variety of study abroad options to fit the wide range of schedules, interests and travel goals.

1. “Borders were made to intrigue us,
not to divide us”
MANRRS Travel Abroad Workshop
Steve Sheppard, President EcoPassports

2. It’s Time to Go Abroad
Challenge Thought:
TRAVELis the only thing you buy that makes you RICHER

3. Agenda: What we’re going to accomplish in
50 short minutes
• About Me, EcoPassports, and the MANRRS partnership
• Who I Am (yes, there is a difference)
• Who Are You and Where Do You Want to Travel? Group Exercise
• Three Study Abroad Myths that we have to SHATTER TODAY!
• Make it Happen: The Steps to Becoming a Global Citizen
• Financing: Two upcoming trips, Hawaii & Costa Rica
• Conclusion/Wrap-Up: Ok, I Want to Go…Now What?
-Sign up Today & help write the next chapter in MANRRS history: Study Abroad
-Hawaii Trip: Winter Break 2013
-Costa Rica: Spring Break 2014

4. About Me(according to LinkedIn)

5. It’s fair to
say you’ve
learned
ABOUT
ME…BUT,
THIS IS
WHO I
AM
Steve Sheppard: Traveler, Innovator, Entrepreneur, Dreamer, Doer, Dad
Salzburg
Rome- The Coliseum
Adriatic Sea
Frankfurt
Croatia
Panama

6. WHAT I’VE HEARD ABOUT
STUDY ABROAD
Travel Mythbusters

7. Myth #1:
Travel is
expensive
I could
never gain
enough
money to
travel &
study
abroad

8.  Have the Right Tools
 Plan (WAY) Ahead
 Budget Carefully

9. Myth #2: Study Abroad
isn’t for me…
My grades
aren’t good
enough…
I don’t have
time…
I don’t know
a foreign
language…
etc, etc., etc.

10.  Stop Selling Yourself Short: Figure out a way Abroad
 Achieve Your Goals & Dreams
 Time & Space for a lifetime of personal experiences
LIFEHACKING*
* Life hacking refers to any trick, shortcut, skill, or novelty method to increase results in all walks of life; in
other words, anything that solves an everyday problem in a clever or non-obvious way might be called a
life hack.

11. Myth #3:
Study
Abroad is
a nice
“trip” and
way to
have fun…
But that’s
about it

12. • Have the Right Tools
• Plan (WAY) Ahead
• Budget Carefully
Remember this guy…?
Here’s how he views your
study abroad experience
Source: Next Generation UK Report (December 2011)

13. • Have the Right Tools
• Plan (WAY) Ahead
• Budget Carefully
Intentional Success:
Additional Benefits of joining an EcoPassports
Study Abroad Trip
• New Experience(s) = New Resume!
One-on-One Resume Review
• Your resume WILL BE provided to an HR
Representative at all corporate tour locations

15. FIRST STEPS(S) • Figure out WHY you want to
travel
• Read the book- The 4 hour
work week and apply it to
your life on campus
• Download a GOOD budget
planner
• Choose your destination
• Start Planning: Over which
break do you want to go?
• Start saving money (beg,
borrow, sell stuff)

16. SECOND STEP(S) • Review your budget
and determine best
destination based on
funds & schedule
• Submit your
EcoPassports travel
deposit: $275
• Update family, friends,
and significant others
that you’ll be traveling
soon
• Get your passport
NOW! Online or
during the upcoming
MANRRS Passport
Drive

17. THIRD STEP(S)
• Research Funding
Resources
• A Big & Important
Step: More on this in
a moment

18. FOURTH STEP(S)
• It’s time to go
abroad: Apply online
www.ecopassports.com
• Lifehack: Complete
all the requirements
by the application
deadline
• GO ABROAD! Keep
in close contact with
EcoPassports or your
MANRRS Advisor for
specific questions

20. THE HARD STUFF
Must Ask Questions for
Diversity Abroad
• How is my ethnic group
perceived in my host country?
What kind of stereotypes are
there?
• How should I react if I find
something to be offensive?
• Is the person curious or do they
have bad intentions?
• The more you get into the spirit
of your trip & INTEGRATE with the
culture, the less you'll stand out:
REMEMBER THE GLOBAL KINSHIP
OF AGRICULTURE
• Don't go abroad expecting
racism or discrimination.

21. THE GOOD STUFF
• You can do this…you
really can
• Focus on the experience,
visualize being there
• One you’re there, travel
with all five of your senses
• Once you do
travel…welcome
aboard...you’ll never be
the same

22. Costa Rica? Yes!
Cuba? Yes!
www.ecopassports.com

23. YOU CAN’T
AFFORD NOT TO
GO ABROAD!
Funding Your Study
Abroad Experience
(oversimplified…
but only slightly so)

24. Plan Ahead &
calculate the
rough costs:
•Program Deposit: $275
•Program Fee: $3,500 (avg.)
•Passport/Visa: $250
•Meals: Included!
•Immunizations: Free!
•Personal Cash: Your call!
PRIORITIZE
Set priorities. Try to put aside 25%
to 50% of your paycheck and deposit
funds into a separate study abroad
account. Do without that coffee,
movie, or mall trip & push the
additional funds towards your trip.

25. Financial Aid:
•YES! It can be used for study
abroad
•Visit the Financial Aid Office
•Aid amounts vary
•Do not assume you will be
awarded 100% of the money
needed to cover the costs of
your travel program.
FAST FACT:
If you are not currently receiving
financial aid, complete a FAFSA.
If you currently receive financial
aid, you must first apply to a study
abroad program.

26. Scholarships:
•Plenty, Plenty, Plenty of
availability
•Administered by the Ag
School & others by the Study
Abroad Office
• Professional, social, and
service organizations also
provide scholarship
opportunitiesREMEMBER:
Don’t miss the application deadlines!

27. Creative
Fundraising:
•Direct, informal appeals:
the key to successful
fundraising is confidence &
perseverance!
•Flamemaker Projects &
Crowdsourcing
•Holiday & Birthday Gifts:
Request financial gifts or
loans! How about a Passport
for your birthday?
QUICK TIP:
Fundraising will help to make your trip more
affordable and serves as a way to educate
the public about the world of agriculture

28. To Do: The Call to Action
Sign up today and help write the next
chapter in MANRRS history:
Study Abroad
Inaugural Domestic Trip:
Hawaii, Winter Break 2013
Inaugural International Trip:
Costa Rica, Spring Break 2014

29. Your Study Abroad
Experience =
Intentional Success
All-inclusive, affordable LifeHacking!
• The next chapter in MANRRS history
• Loans/Funding Assistance available
• Post-travel employment assistance

30.  Once you travel, you’ll never be the same
 Focus on the experience, visualize being there
 Once you’re there, travel with all five of your senses
 You can do this…you really can
THE GOOD STUFFAre You Global Citizen Ready?
Don’t Wish It…Be It
EcoPassports & MANRRS
Study Abroad
Questions?