The Founder’s Prize: Ray Vernon's Ongoing Legacy

Almost 2 years ago, together with University of California Education Abroad Program (UCEAP), Accent Global Learning announced the creation of the Founder’s Prize to honor Ray Vernon’s memory with a scholarship for students of entrepreneurship. Now in its second year, the Founders Prize has two recipients currently in programs in London and Paris. We thought you would like to hear how Ray’s continuing legacy, supported by you, is impacting their experience.

Carolyn Hernandez
Founder’s Prize Recipient, Business & Entrepreneurship Semester, Spring 2024 London

What a privilege it has been to have this experience and make everlasting memories of my time here in London. Being able to see what is beyond the scope of my town and where I was brought up has been enlightening and I’m so grateful to have witnessed the diversity and beauty of the countless cultures in London. Studying abroad in London and being a recipient of the Founder’s Prize has opened my eyes and encouraged me to dream bigger. I didn’t grow up with financial stability and endless opportunities so this experience is something that I will forever cherish and it has taught me to not limit myself to what I think is possible for myself. This experience has proven to me that I am capable of succeeding and receiving opportunities. I fell in love with London so much that I see myself having a career here and bringing impactful opportunities to marginalized and diverse communities since I know first-hand the struggles of being excluded and limited. Thank you so much for allowing me to have this experience and widening the possibilities for myself.

Zadie Waletzko
Founder’s Prize Recipient, Social Justice & Activism Semester, Spring 2024 Paris

When I was a little girl, I told my mom that my dream was to move to Paris and open a bakery that sold bites of raw cookie dough with every pastry. While my career path has taken a drastic turn away from baking and into politics and I have since learned about the dangers of salmonella, my dream of eating a pastry in Paris has been fulfilled. Receiving the Founder’s Prize has been incredibly helpful in achieving this dream. The Founder’s prize significantly alleviated the cost of concern surrounding study abroad. Within my first week in Paris, I attended a trip to the Grande Mosque de Paris which was created to honor the many Muslims from the colonies who died for France in World War I. I attended “an evening in Montparnasse” where I ate a traditional Crêpe bretonne and viewed Paris from the top of the Montparnasse Tower. I have also appreciated my other classes which dive into social justice and political issues in France. Media, Violence, and Social Justice focuses on the intertwining of such topics through different events such as the current Farmers’ Protests, the Yellow Vest Movement, and May ‘68. Confronting Injustice traces French history through revolutionary acts connecting the values of the French Revolution to different events throughout the 1800s. As I have had minimal education on French history since high school, I thoroughly enjoy learning this material and connecting it to things I have learned in my American politics classes. This experience has introduced me to numerous new cultures and shaped me into a global citizen. Before this quarter I had never been to Europe but now, halfway through the program, I have visited France, Spain, and England, and am going to Amsterdam next week. While I have enjoyed traveling, the Paris Accent program has also allowed me to fully immerse myself in French culture. It was very insightful to learn about the differences in our cultures. We all went out after and learned more about their daily lives and studies. While I have not conquered enough French to open a bakery here, I am incredibly grateful to be spending my winter quarter here to truly experience living like a Parisian.

Those of you who wish to contribute to Ray Vernon’s legacy and help support the Founder’s Prize may donate online