From scholarship to study abroad

Lucas Fernandez, a senior history major, received the Patricia A. Gallagher History Scholarship last spring. This scholarship supports the academic career of exceptional History majors.

The paper Lucas submitted for the award is titled: “Blaxploitation Cinema: The Repossession of Black Narratives." His paper focused on the consequences to the Black community with the rise of a new film genre in the 1960s and 70s. Lucas carefully laid out the debates between those who, then and now, have interpreted blaxploitation as racist and morally dubious versus others who point to the expansion of opportunities in the entertainment industry that followed for Black workers.

When receiving the award, Lucas said, "This is an amazing honor. I could not have done it without my amazing history professors. The collective support I've received from this university to help win this award has truly made me feel part of not only a community, but a family." 

Lucas was able to use the proceeds from his scholarship to do something he was passionate about – studying abroad. Lucas said, “I learned a lot about myself through this experience. Studying abroad is different from a classroom because of the memories you're forging with the people around you.”

Read on for the full Q&A with Lucas about his study abroad experience in England! 

Tell me about your study abroad experience for HIST 3954: The Making of England! 
My trip took place in England -- we started in London and went all across the country. I saw places like Wales, Edinburgh, York, and Rochester. We went in May 2024 and stayed for 3 weeks. We studied the Roman occupation of England and saw remains and architecture that were hundreds of years old. It was very fascinating, and we did something new every day.

What was your favorite part of the trip? 
Seeing the White Cliffs of Dover on a clear day. I was able to look across the channel and see France. The most memorable place I saw was Stonehenge. While it was not part of the course and didn't have anything to do with Rome, it was still a really cool place to visit while in England! 

What advice would you give to fellow history majors who are applying for the scholarship awards? 
My advice would be to work hard on a piece of research you're passionate about and lean on your professors for feedback and criticism. They want you to succeed more than you know. I don’t think I would have received the award if I hadn't reached out to my professors for support.

What did it mean to you for this scholarship to help fund your study abroad experience? 
Using the funds from the scholarship to study abroad was a weight off my shoulders. It allowed me the opportunity to not stress about funding an experience I was passionate about. It opened the door for me to do something most people don't.

What’s a unique moment you had on the trip? 
I drank ancient spring water used in Roman bathhouses... it didn't taste very good.