Holly Berrigan, international studies junior. (Photo Provided)

An OU student has been awarded a $1,000-study abroad scholarship that debuted this year.

Holly Berrigan, international studies junior, received the Alpha Lambda Delta James G. Stemler Study Abroad Scholarship, which is awarded to Alpha Lambda Delta members pursuing a for-credit study abroad program during the 2010-11 academic year, according to a press release.

Berrigan said she plans to use the scholarship to help pay for her tuition while studying in Arezzo, Italy — where she will spend the fall semester.

She said her interest in traveling led her to try studying abroad.

"When I was 12 I was able to study in Japan, and my interest just kind of grew from there," Berringan said by e-mail while traveling in Italy. "Last summer I studied in France with the OU French program, and now I will be in Arezzo, Italy."

Berrigan, who lives in Frisco, Texas, said she will study with 15 other students enrolled in the OU in Arezzo program.

"It's special because OU has faculty and staff in Arezzo to teach classes in English, which means that any major can attend and they do not have to speak Italian," she said.

Berrigan said the application process was lengthy. She said in addition to filing out paperwork, she had to earn a certain amount of service points through Alpha Lambda Delta to be eligible.

The OU chapter selected three finalists to submit to the national competition, where the selection committee chose 10 winners, she said.

The national committee reviewed more than 40 applicants, and selected students whose studies will take them as far away as China and Norway, according to the release.

The scholarship is named in honor of James G. Stemler, who served the organization for more than 14 years, the release stated. Stemler has been a vocal proponent of international study.

Alpha Lambda Delta said it recognizes that the world is becoming a global community and there is a need for American student to experience life beyond the United States. By awarding students financial help to study abroad, the organization can accomplish this goal, according to the release.

Alpha Lambda Delta was founded in 1924 as a national honor society with chapters on more than 250 campuses and more than 850,000 members, the release stated.

Berrigan said it is a great group because it introduces students to a variety of people on campus.

"Since it is not a special interest group ... you have all different kinds of majors and students in the organization," she said. "I made a lot of great friends that I would not have met otherwise this year."