Mother of Two Grown Children Reinvents Herself through Education

A 2017 Butler graduate, who attends Kansas State University, was awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to study in Switzerland for the spring 2018 semester. Vanessa McCauley, a junior in hospitality management at Kansas State, will study international business and hospitality at the Robert Gordon University in partnership with BHMS (Business & Hotel Management School). After her studies at the university, she will apprentice in Europe.

“My journey began at Butler, then to Kansas State University, and now on to Europe for global studies,” McCauley said. “My two years spent at Butler gave me the foundation I needed for my future in business and hotel management and also prepared me for Kansas State University. I am thankful for Butler. They coached me, inspired me to press forward and to never give up on my dreams.”

Last year, McCauley was the recipient of the Doris Buffett National Women's Independence Scholarship Program, a national award, as well as several other scholarships including the American Institute of Food and Wine Scholarship.

McCauley, a nontraditional student and the mother of two grown children, believes if she can set her mind to something, she can accomplish it. She wants others to follow their dreams.

“I want non-traditional students to realize it is never too late to have your dreams come true,” McCauley said.

The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, a competitive award, allows students to study abroad. The Gilman Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and is supported in its implementation by the Institute of International Education (IIE).