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Salvatorian Global Scholars Honors Program: Seeing the World Through Catholic Eyes

3/18/2025

Fall Semester 2024 of The Word Magazine

Learn more about DSHA's Salvatorian Global Scholars Program. This program allows Dashers to grow as global citizens as they expand their cultural knowledge and experience, grow in language proficiency, and foster involvement and collaboration in the global community with the intent to improve the quality of life for our sisters and brothers worldwide.

The DSHA Salvatorian Global Scholars Program is running in its second year. The mission of the academic honors program is to provide students with intentional opportunities to grow as global citizens who embrace the mission of the Sisters of the Divine Savior to foster an awareness of a loving God among peoples in whatever place and by whatever means the Spirit of God inspires.

This certificate program was brought to life through the work of Academic Dean and World Languages Faculty Jen McLaughlin and Principal Dan Quesnell to help Dashers expand cultural knowledge and experience to grow world language proficiency, and to foster involvement and collaboration in the global community with the intent to improve the quality of life for our sisters and brothers worldwide.

Students who successfully complete all components of the DSHA Salvatorian Global Scholars Program will receive a certificate of distinction as a Global Scholar upon graduation from DSHA.

More About the Salvatoran Global Scholars Program

Inspired by the Sisters of the Divine Savior | DSHA’s sponsoring order, the Sisters of the Divine Savior, hold their North American headquarters on a shared campus with DSHA, though they are an international congregation of more than 1,000 sisters ministering in 26 countries and on five continents. Inspired by the Sisters, students in the Salvatorian Global Scholars Program will prepare for higher education and careers in which multilanguage proficiency, knowledge, experience, and acceptance of diverse cultures are an asset.

Becoming Global Citizens | Through the program, classroom studies guide scholars to learn about world cultures, geography, history, science, language, literature, art, and religion in a world that is becoming more diverse and interdependent. An additional goal is for scholars to evolve as global citizens outside of the classroom through co-curricular activities, community or international service, and intercultural experiences local or abroad. The intention is for scholars to promote awareness of global issues, appreciate diverse cultures, consider multiple sides of problems, and propose potential solutions to global issues. They are to be liaisons between their home community and the world.

Global Seal of Biliteracy | Through this program, students can receive credentials verifying proficiency in two languages. The application-based seal can be used on college applications and in other professional settings. Students must show proficiency in English (via ACT/SAT English score) along with a second language through a test composed of interpersonal listening and speaking, interpretive reading and listening, and presentational writing.

What Is the Impact of the Global Scholars Program?

Harper Nelder, DSHA 25 (on right)

“I was initially in [DSHA’s] STEM Scholars [honors program] and was so excited to learn about Global Scholars. I value being well-rounded and wanted a chance to push myself in the humanities the way I have done in STEM. For one of my intercultural experiences, I went to Australia for a study abroad program about wildlife conservation. It is not something I would have been exposed to anywhere else. I got to go for three weeks over the summer and see the other side of the world. Seeing all that we have in common has helped me be open to recognizing and appreciating the differences of our experiences across cultures. In college, I plan to major in environmental engineering, with minors in humanitarian engineering and Spanish. Global Scholars has helped open my eyes to other parts of the world and issues that others are experiencing. I want to help solve those problems through engineering.”

Elizabeth Orta-Medina, DSHA ’25

“I want to be an architect and wanted to be challenged by another academic honors program (in addition to STEM Scholars). Global Scholars has given me opportunities to practice connecting across worlds and cultures and there is so much beauty in that. On our Israel trip, I found that people connected to my own story. And in Italy, I was able to begin to understand the language because I’m fluent in Spanish. This summer, I’m going on the Spanish immersion trip to Costa Rica, too. I like that we can find ways to connect on various issues that matter to the world. I’m a leader in Furia Latina, and we emphasize having respectful conversations through our differences. I want to learn about other cultures and I am so grateful to have these opportunities to experience the world because there are people I love that have not had the same opportunities.”

Academic Dean and World Languages Faculty Jen McLaughlin

“[DSHA Chaplain] Father Silas (SDS) put it best at a recent Mass. In his homily, he challenged us to see the world through Catholic eyes. That is what this program is about. This program encourages girls to be curious about the world and to be intentional about connecting their classwork with experiences outside of their own community. The honors certificate offers a niche for students who are interested in the fields of global studies, health, environment, language, humanities, and arts as they prepare to be citizens of the world—just as our Sisters of the Divine Savior inspire us to do every day. Girls will leave this program as articulate communicators and problem solvers with an ability to listen to understand. They are ready to take these skills out into the world as they pursue their higher education, career, and their role in an evolving world.”

Read the full story on pages 27-30 in the Fall Semester 2024 Word Magazine here.

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- In October, best-selling author, Catholic speaker, and Rwandan genocide survivor, Immaculée Ilibagiza traveled to Milwaukee to speak about her experiences at Marquette University High School. The DSHA Salvatorian Global Scholar students, along with Campus Ministry Officers, had the opportunity to listen to her message of love, forgiveness, and the power of prayer and trust in God. Following, the students were able to engage in a Q&amp;A with Ilibagiza.
- This fall the French Club co-curricular welcomed a group of students from the Lycée St. Jean, a Catholic School in Limoges, France—treated on their first day to a slew of favorite American goodies. From October 10-23, the 30 students lived with a DSHA host family, attended DSHA, and got to experience life as an American high school student. This spring, Dashers will have the same immersive opportunity to visit France where they will stay with the family of the student they hosted.