Roanoke education major earns national award to study in Spain

As a young child, Robynn Hale '27 spent her summers driving cross-country with her father, traveling from their home in South Central Los Angeles to visit family nearly 2,500 miles away in Roanoke, Virginia.  

Along the way, her dad would talk with her about the history of this vast country, making stops so she could see historical landmarks firsthand.  

"Those road trips became my first classroom," said Hale, 30, an art and elementary education major.

Travel has always inspired Hale, sparking her sense of curiosity and discovery, whether it be on those long summer drives or on trips she would take later with her own young daughter, age 6. Now, Hale has a chance to explore the world in a whole new way, immersing herself in another culture for a full semester, thanks to a prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship from the U.S. State Department.  

“I’m excited. I want to make the most of my time there and find new ways to build community,” Hale said. “I’m looking forward to navigating new spaces and even to experiencing some challenges, because I know I’ll learn from them and I’m capable of overcoming them.”

In the fall, Hale and her daughter will be headed to Pamplona, Spain, whose cobblestone streets and 16th century architecture set the scene for great works by figures like Hemingway. There, Hale will study at the Public University of Navarra, honing her Spanish language skills and building cross-cultural connections in local classrooms.

Her work will be supported by a Gilman Scholarship, a competitive, national award offered by the State Department to help outstanding college undergraduates build vital language skills and global networks. It’s the type of transformative opportunity that Hale never saw in the cards for herself before deciding to go back to school.

“I love being able to challenge myself and get outside my comfort zone,” she said. “But I’m a nontraditional student and sometimes you have that negative internal dialogue, you know? You ask yourself, is it crazy that I’m even applying for this?”

“That’s part of what makes this so special to me. I’m incredibly grateful I decided to go back to school at a time when my daughter will be able to remember things and remember us doing this. I’m trying to take moments to step back and reflect, just to appreciate where I am right now and what I’m able to teach her.”

Hale learned of the Gilman Scholarship while at Roanoke and was mentored through the application process by faculty, including Director of Major Scholarships and Fellowships Teresa Hancock-Parmer, who encouraged her to think deeply about her essays and craft responses that spoke to her distinctive experiences and goals.

It was the kind of personalized support that would be harder to come by at a big university or an online school, Hale said.  

“Coming to Roanoke helped me find different resources, like the Gilman,” she said, adding that opportunity to form close connections with others is what made Roanoke a good fit for her.  

“I wanted to be in person, and I wanted the smaller classrooms. I love being able to know other people’s names, because I think that adds to the community dynamic. If I was in class with 300 other students, I might not have that, and it might be harder for me to ask questions.”

When she returns from Pamplona, Hale plans to launch a follow-up service project in local high schools, mentoring students and introducing them to international education opportunities. Her hope is to reach young people who might think studying abroad is out of their reach — like she once did.

“I want them to be able to see themselves in these places and see that they fit. That there is a space for them,” she said. “You have to bet on yourself. That's something I’ve learned. Betting on yourself is important.”