The grant will support an initiative to help students apply for and receive their passports, and those who do so through the program will also receive a study abroad scholarship.
Baldwin Wallace University recently received an IIE American Passport Project grant. IIE American Passport Project is an initiative of the IIE Center for International Opportunities that gives college students with financial need funding to apply for their passports. Students who take advantage of the program will also receive a scholarship to participate in study abroad trips during their time at Baldwin Wallace University.
According to an article on Baldwin Wallace University's website, Christie Shrefler, who is director of the university’s Bonds Center for Global Exploration, was quoted as saying of the grant, "We are grateful to be recipients of the IIE American Passport Project grant. This generous grant is another opportunity to expand real-world learning experiences for BW students. Among other benefactors who have contributed to students studying abroad or to the service projects they have done abroad are the Bonds family and Women for BW, whose generous scholarships and grant funding have benefited many students over the years.”
The IIE American Passport Project grant will give the university the ability to help 25 students who are Pell-eligible apply for and pay for their passports. Students who take advantage of this opportunity will also be given a $500 "First Steps Abroad" scholarship from the Bonds family.
The Bonds family has been instrumental in providing resources for Baldwin Wallace University students to attend study abroad trips. The Bonds family as a whole has a scholarship for students to participate in study abroad, and individual members of the family have their own study abroad scholarships available as well, such as Sandy Bonds, who has funded an endowment dedicated to study abroad for students focused on careers in technical theatre. In October 2025, the university’s study abroad and international student hub was named the Dr. A.B. Bonds, Jr. and Georgianna Bonds Center for Global Exploration.
Further demonstrating the importance of study abroad opportunities for BW students, the Melampy Passport Endowment is available, which is named in honor of biology professor emeritus Michael Melampy.
Hannah Sim, a 2026 Baldwin Wallace University graduate who earned her degree in theatre, was able to attend a theatre-immersion study abroad experience in London thanks to a Bonds family scholarship.
Speaking of her experience, Sim said, "I spent two weeks immersed in the London theatre scene. I saw a total of 11 productions, with a majority of them being on the West End. In addition, I had the chance to explore the city. None of these wonderful experiences would have happened without the generous support of the Bonds family. The productions I saw in London helped me have a better understanding of what makes theatre so magical.”
Baldwin Wallace University reports that 27% of its student body participates in study abroad, compared to a national average of 10%.
For more information about Baldwin Wallace University, visit the school’s website.