Sarah Sprinkman

2023 Newman Family Scholarship Honorable Mention

My name is Sarah Sprinkman and I am a rising junior majoring in International Studies and Spanish with a concentration in Politics and Policy in the Global Economy. 

My interest in International Studies began in high school, where I had the opportunity to participate in the Global Scholars Program. Through this program, I learned about global issues such as climate change, gender inequality, and several refugee crises. I also had the opportunity to learn the Spanish language, which broadened my language skills, my knowledge of culture, and the ways in which the aforementioned problems impact Hispanic nations. To me, these issues seemed so pressing, and as a citizen of our world, I wanted to be as prepared as I could be to help. The IS program here at UW has absolutely prepared me to do just that. 

One of the most significant ways that I have been prepared to do this is through the interdisciplinary educational opportunities that have been offered to me here. For example, I am currently a Research Assistant in the Brauer Group Lab, which studies social psychology in tandem with an environmental conservation program in Mexico. This holistic approach is essential to understanding what makes some conservation programs more effective than others, and it has taught me many valuable lessons about the necessity for balanced approaches to solving global issues. Problems as massive as climate change warrant massive and holistic solutions that take into account cultural, social, economic, scientific, and a whole host of other factors. Thanks to UW–Madison, I understand the importance of comprehensive solutions to global issues, and I feel compelled to be a global citizen who helps to tackle these problems. 

In Spring 2024, I plan to study abroad in Madrid. After graduation, I would like to continue to study international relations by earning a master’s degree in development economics. I am so grateful to the Newman family for this award and their support of women in the IS major, and I am also thankful for the support I have received from my IS advisors and the faculty here at UW–Madison, especially Professor Lisa Naughton.