Traveling to Japan was Isaiah Butler’s dream and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore helped him realize it in just three semesters.
That was the fall of 2023. Fast forward to today and Butler has been awarded nearly $60,000 to study international languages and cultures. The Senior Hospitality and Tourism major is only one of a few UMES students to receive such a scholarship to study abroad in Japan.
While scholarships help ease the financial challenges of travel, Butler said the experience of becoming familiar with world cultures is priceless.
“It’s made me more confident as I get to know more about other cultures and people there learn about mine,” he said. “Study abroad is something I encourage more students to take advantage of because you’ll learn the world is so much bigger than UMES and Maryland.”
Phillip Broussard, director of the Center for International Education, said that’s the point of the Boren Scholarship, Butler’s most recent award.
“We can have greater success if we can encourage students to think globally and expand their horizons,” said Broussard. “American national security needs more citizens with an understanding of foreign languages and cultures to help our country protect our interests and understand what’s going on in the world.
Though Butler may be a clear example of the power of learning languages, there’s still work to be done in getting more UMES students and others across the country interested in faculty-led study abroad opportunities. For example, more than 250,000 Chinese students study in the United States compared to about 2,000 American students studying abroad in China.
Butler not only made UMES history by earning three different scholarships for travel, but he also helped UMES reach a record high of 80 students studying abroad in 2025 compared to about 15 students in prior years. The Japanese major will refine his language skills in Tokyo over the next six months. Then, as required by the Boren Scholarship, Bulter will fulfill his public service pledge by going on to serve as a U.S. diplomat.
“Eventually, I want to own my own restaurant and hotel, combining my love for travel, language with leadership,” Butler said.
