Support Courtney's Senior Capstone in Spain

Hi everyone!

My name is Courtney, and I’m a senior at Portland State University studying psychology. This summer, I’ve been accepted into a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: a faculty-led study abroad program in northeastern Spain. I’ll be leaving on June 26th to spend three weeks traveling through Catalonia — from Barcelona to the Costa Brava — while completing my senior capstone and studying identity, culture, and civic engagement.

As part of the program, I’ll be partnering with environmental organizations like Plastic Oceans International and CETI to create advocacy-based art and engage in climate justice work. I’ll also be working on a project called Postcards for the Environment that uses augmented reality to raise awareness about climate change.

This trip means a lot to me. Over the past three years, I’ve been taking full-time online classes while working full time. I haven’t had the typical college experience, and this feels like one of my last chances to make lasting friendships, connect with peers my age, and learn in a deeply immersive way.

I’ve saved $1,000, received a $1,000 scholarship, and was awarded $1,200 in university grants, covering $3,200 of the $7,450 total cost. I’m hoping to raise $2,000 to help reduce the amount I’ll need to take out in student loans. Your support will help cover the cost of tuition, housing, meals, travel insurance, and access to cultural and educational experiences throughout the program.

If you’re able to contribute — or even just share this — I’d be truly grateful. I’ll be posting daily updates during the trip as part of a social media takeover on @esapics (Educational Services Abroad’s Instagram), and I’d love for you to follow along!

Thank you so much for being part of this journey — it means more than you know.

With gratitude,

Courtney Kyser

P.S. If you’d rather contribute directly, here are a few options:

Venmo: @courtkyser

PayPal: @courtneykyser

CashApp: $courtkyser

Please include a quick note like “Spain” so I know it’s for this trip. I'm so grateful for your support. Thank you, and may God bless you!

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