Two Georgia Southern Students Among Few Chosen for Rotary International Award

Business Scholars Engage in Nordic Culture and Global Business Perspectives

Two Georgia Southern University students spent their summer exploring Denmark and Norway, thanks to the Georgia Rotary Student Program and its partners in Scandinavia. Parker College of Business students Alana Milner and Claire Jerguson were recipients of the highly sought-after Rotary International award, which provided them with the opportunity to study abroad and experience diverse cultures.

“Only four students in the whole state of Georgia can be selected each year,” said Lecturer of Management WeiKang Wang, the Rotarian who recommended them for the award. “Now, Georgia Southern has half of them. It demonstrates the quality of our Parker College of Business brand.”

The Rotary funding covered airfare, tuition and administrative fees at their respective universities, housing and a stipend for other expenses.

Alana Milner

For Alana Milner, the most cherished part of her Rotary-funded experience at the University of Oslo in Norway was not the coursework but the friendships she forged during her four-week stay. Hailing from Screven County, Georgia, she stayed in a hostel, which housed students from 61 countries. Before she left home, Milner admitted to feeling “excited but also nervous about traveling across the world alone.” But her fears quickly eased in the vibrant community of the International Summer School.

“I worried that I might feel isolated or homesick, but I couldn’t have been more wrong,” she said. “I met incredible people who quickly became my support system in Norway. There’s a special bond that forms between study abroad friends who step into the unknown together, experience new cultures side by side, and share both the challenges and the joys of living abroad. I may not have brought any friends with me to Norway, but I left with friendships that I’ll carry with me for a lifetime.”

Milner graduated last May with a dual degree in business (marketing and management) and is a current MBA student. In Oslo, she studied architecture and urban planning with a special emphasis on sustainability. The city, recognized as a green capital of the world, provided a living laboratory for her studies.

“It was fascinating to see firsthand how sustainability is woven into the city’s planning and development strategies, and to learn about the innovative approaches they use to balance growth with environmental responsibility,” Milner said. Now, working as a marketing director in Statesboro, she added, “Studying abroad gave me a global perspective that I now carry into my professional work.”

Her time abroad began with a few unexpected setbacks, from a storm that shut down the Atlanta airport and cancelled her flight, to lost luggage and a temporary housing mix-up. But Milner maintained her positive outlook and while in Norway conquered her fears by cliff jumping 40 feet into the North Sea. Reflecting on her summer experience, she encouraged other students to embrace opportunities and push their limits.

“Take the leap and apply to study abroad, even if it feels intimidating,” she said. “Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone – this is where true growth happens.”

Milner added that she will be forever grateful to the Rotary Club for providing her with the opportunity of a lifetime.

Claire Jerguson

Claire Jerguson headed to Aarhus University in Denmark for her summer session. The Cherokee County, Georgia, student confessed that her academic path has always been quite clear.

“I have always had a passion for starting my own business from a young age and believed a management degree would be the perfect route for me,” Jerguson said. “It has taught me how to be a good leader.”

The Georgia Southern senior said the opportunity to study abroad arose from a desire to “experience something new as well as to study business in another country.” She focused her studies on digital entrepreneurship in what she called a “fast-paced, intimate environment” for two and a half weeks, ending with a comprehensive examination.

“There was a major emphasis on group work with minimal homework and low individual studies,” Jerguson said. “The Danish school system prioritizes working with others, receiving and giving feedback, and collaboration in a low-stress environment.”

The business management major acknowledged that group projects and assignments at Georgia Southern prepared her for the summer session.

“Learning and understanding how to work as a team here truly developed my ability to hear others out and absorb feedback well, a skill crucial to know before studying in Denmark,” she said.

During her time in Denmark, Jerguson enjoyed a range of fun excursions, from visiting the North Sea and climbing fjords to taking boat tours, exploring street food markets and window shopping. She also made visits to Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

“Traveling abroad alone for the first time can be scary, but so exciting,” Jerguson said. Her biggest challenge, she said, was “figuring it out” and learning to trust herself.

“I quickly learned that asking for help is sometimes important, and that although it can be challenging to approach a stranger who speaks a different language, it almost always works out,” she said. “The Danish people were so helpful when it came to navigating public transportation and helping me understand street signs and menus.”

What did she enjoy the most? The relationships she built with students from diverse global locations, including China, Australia and Spain.

“This experience was incredibly unique in the sense that Rotary members want you to not only travel abroad but also experience a culture and live in it,” Jerguson said. “This was an intimate and informative journey that I wish all students could embark on.”

When Jerguson graduates in May 2026, she plans to leverage her marketing ability and international experience to launch her entrepreneurial venture in the agriculture, marketing or tech industries.

— Sandra Bennett