Steven and Maria Mungo wanted to support Wofford College students and could think of no better way than to champion study abroad experiences.
“Maria and I were reflecting on the most impactful things our children experienced at Wofford, and all didn’t occur in the classroom,” says Steven Mungo ’81, CEO of Mungo Homes, a homebuilding company, and current member of the college’s Board of Trustees. “We actually jealously watched our children travel the world during Interim.”
The Mungos contributed to the college’s “For Wofford” comprehensive campaign by establishing the Maria and Steven Mungo World Experience Fund. It’s an endowed fund that supports international travel opportunities for Wofford students who have significant financial need. The fund is one of 189 new endowed funds created during the campaign.
Wofford’s tuition and financial aid often transfers to support study abroad programs. For students with financial need, however, extended travel while in other countries or opportunities to study abroad for Interim are out of reach. The Maria and Steven Mungo World Experience Fund takes this into consideration. Students can apply for “roaming funds” while abroad that will allow them to access other parts of the region or continent where they are studying.
“We never want the cost of airfare (or a train ticket) to be an obstacle,” says Steven Mungo.
The Mungos’ children, Emily Mungo Frank ’15 and Ward Mungo ’12, spent most of their Interims studying abroad. There were experiences in Thailand and South Africa. Emily’s time studying in Budapest gave her opportunities to travel across Europe to connect with friends studying on the continent. Ward lived with a host family in Santiago and gained better insight on living in Chile and an understanding of its economy.
The Maria and Steven Mungo World Experience Fund will make similar opportunities more accessible for other Wofford students.
“We want them to learn and grow and have a better appreciation for the world and their place in it,” Steven Mungo says.