Sprott alumnus creates scholarship to support international business students
“Always do good things for people, because they may not return that favour to you but hopefully they’ll return it to somebody else going forward.”
Anil Bhartia (BIB/00) heard these words from a friend in Mexico while he was on an international exchange during his undergraduate studies, and they stuck with him ever since. And, with them in mind and a love for Carleton University and the Sprott School of Business in his heart, he decided to give back and established the Anil Bhartia Award in International Business.
The $1,000 award is given annually – on the recommendation of the Dean of Sprott – to an outstanding student in the Bachelor of International Business program who is studying in Mexico for their year-abroad.
“I graduated 20 years ago, and honestly, not a day goes by where I don’t think about the program,” Anil, who is now a lawyer in California, says. “I wanted to do something to give back.”
He believes that “there is no greater education than travelling”, so he launched this scholarship to help students receive this education and immerse themselves completely in the experience without the distractions of finances.
Students in Sprott’s Bachelor of International Business spend the first two years of the program learning a new language through intensive training and spend their third year of the program gaining firsthand international experience, such as through an international exchange.
“When I received the news that I would be receiving the scholarship, I felt a great sense of relief,” says Jacob Sams, Bachelor of International Business student and recipient of the scholarship in 2019-20. “Working during the summers trying to save up enough money to pay for school, let alone while also going abroad is a difficult task for students in the current economic climate.”
“Being awarded this scholarship gave me more breathing room when it came to my finances, and I was able to experience more of the beautiful country of Mexico because of this. Having extra resources to be able to explore and, most importantly, learn about another point of view was invaluable, and lessons learned will be carried with me my whole life.”
He also had a message for Anil.
“Thank you for believing in the next generation and for investing in them. I am a firm believer that the actions you take define you, and supporting others speaks volumes about someone’s character. I am grateful.”
For his year abroad, Jacob went to Guadalajara to study at Tecnológico de Monterrey and had a “fantastic” experience.
“The biggest reward I received from studying abroad was the perspective. Every time anyone has the privilege of being able to travel, it brings you outside of your perspective and outside of your comfort zone,” he says. “Your views are challenged, and you learn new ways that everyday people utilize to get through and succeed in their time here on earth.”
Having gone through a similar experience two decades ago at Universidad de Monterrey, Anil feels the exact same way.
“It opens your eyes to how much more there is in the world. You see things differently after going through a year abroad in another country. How you look at the world and see people is completely changed.”