Alumni Scholarship Profiles

Making a difference each day

Emily DeVoie ’11

2010-2011 Harry W. Freeman Scholarship Recipient

Emily DeVoie ’11 knew about the College of Charleston from her mom, Sharon ’88, but her interest in Latin American studies led her to apply to the University of Miami, UMass Boston and Yale. Her mom made one more plea and they visited the College in spring of 2007. “I felt welcomed here immediately. I really felt how much the College was infused with the city of Charleston.” Then, Emily saw the College’s brochure for Latin American Studies and the study abroad program in Cuba. “I was hooked,” says DeVoie.

To attend college, Emily had to receive scholarship assistance. She received several full scholarships from the other schools, but Emily’s heart was now set on attending the College. In the spring of 2007, Emily received the Harry W. Freeman alumni scholarship and a Presidential scholarship.

Emily arrived at College with her sights set on pursuing the Foreign Service, but Cuba would change her course. The College of Charleston is one of a handful of colleges across the country to offer a Cuba study abroad program. As a junior, Emily spent 11 weeks in Havana at the Institute of Philosophy. In the mornings, guest scholars led discussions about government, gender studies and Cuba’s socio-economic issues. Afternoons were spent on field trips to the Ministry of Education or the Committee of Defense of the Revolution. “It was eye-opening. I was completely embedded in a culture I knew very little about. I loved it. The friends and colleagues I met in Cuba will be my friends for life.”

Emily’s Cuban experience ignited a desire to bond more with her own community. This fall, Emily participated in the College Reads! Literacy Outreach initiative. Once a week, she developed a lesson plan based on Greg Mortenson’s Three Cups of Tea for sixth graders at Simmons Middle School in North Charleston. “I enjoyed the classroom. I was excited to be engaged with the city through education.” Emily now leads a Spanish conversation class as a peer teacher. “It’s the College’s unique opportunities to study, work, volunteer in the community that helped me discover what I most passionate about-teaching.”