Grecia Portillo, a rising junior at the CU Denver Business School, recently completed a summer abroad program in Hong Kong, after being awarded a highly prestigious full-ride scholarship from The Fund for American Studies. As a world traveler and student pursuing an international business degree with a minor in Mandarin, Portillo jumped at the opportunity to continue her education in China. Through the program, Portillo studied at the University of Hong Kong, where she focused on political economic theory and how it functions in a real-world context.
In addition to taking part in rigorous academic work, Portillo was also able to explore the sights and rich culture of Hong Kong. Trips around the city included a visit to the Hong Kong Museum of History, and an exclusive tour of several government buildings, a unique opportunity given the limited civilian access granted to such facilities.
One of Portillo’s favorite memories from her time spent abroad was an excursion to Hong Kong’s Sai Kung County Park. With a small group of her peers, Portillo hiked through the park’s mountainous terrain to reach the outer secluded peninsula. Once there, she and her group camped overnight on the beachfront, enjoying the lush landscape and tranquil ocean waters.
For other students wanting to travel abroad, Portillo has this advice, “Definitely do it. Price can be a deterrent, but a lot of scholarships exist that can either offset the cost or cover it completely.” Portillo also stressed the importance of utilizing resources offered by the university, “Reach out to advisors,” she said, “Mine [Ron Ramirez] helped me find both the scholarship that allowed me to go abroad, as well as the trip itself.” After having completed the summer program, Portillo says that she looks forward to traveling around the world in the future and expanding her global network. “Overall, Hong Kong was a totally eye-opening, new experience. Through it, I was able to learn more about a fascinating culture different from my own.”
For more information about study abroad trips through the business school, please visit: http://www.ucdenver.edu/academics/colleges/business/degrees/Pages/Study-Abroad.aspx
