NEWS
NORMAN, OKLA. – Since its founding in 2014, the Withrow Leadership Scholars program at the University of Oklahoma has empowered students with transformative opportunities. Thanks to a $1 million endowment from Jon and Cathryn Withrow, the program annually supports 20 upperclassmen selected from the Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences in year-round leadership training and a study-abroad experience in France.
The program’s cornerstone is a two-week immersive trip to France each May. Under the guidance of Rhonda Dean Kyncl, associate dean for students and the program’s coordinator, this year’s cohort began their journey in Paris. They explored iconic landmarks including the Musée Carnavalet, the Picasso Museum and the newly reopened Notre-Dame Cathedral. Students also walked through Le Marais (now famous thanks to the Netflix series Emily in Paris) and attended a traditional French dinner hosted by benefactor Cathryn Withrow.
“Sharing that five-course dinner with Cathryn Withrow is always the emotional highlight of the trip. It’s not just a meal, it’s a meaningful exchange that connects our students to the people who believe in them enough to fund this life-changing experience,” Kyncl said.
From Paris, the group traveled by train to the historic city of Clermont-Ferrand, a sister city to Norman since the 1980s and home to OU’s long-standing exchange partnership with the Université Clermont Auvergne. While there, students visited the headquarters of Michelin, explored a dormant volcano known as the Puy de Dôme, toured a 16th-century castle and attended a performance by OU’s School of Dance as part of a cultural exchange. The final leg of the trip took them to Lyon, France’s culinary capital and a city steeped in World War II history. Highlights included the Resistance Museum and the Lumière Museum, home of the pioneers of cinema.
“Many of our students had never left the country before, and some had never even held a passport,” Kyncl said. “By the time we reached Lyon, I saw their confidence soar. They weren’t just students anymore; they were global citizens navigating the world together.”
Although the study abroad component comes at the end of the academic year, it’s just the beginning for the student travelers. Upon returning, scholars serve as mentors to first-year students in the Dodge Family Scholars program and help lead the next Withrow cohort through bi-monthly meetings focused on leadership, service and professional development. These sessions range from resume-building workshops to visits from Withrow alumni, creating a lasting community of mentorship and growth.
Learn more about the Withrow Leadership Scholars program.
About the Uproject
Applications for the 2025-26 Withrow cohort open the second week of August and close shortly after Labor Day. Eligible students must be majors in the Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences, hold at least a 3.5 GPA, and be classified as sophomores or higher.
About the University of Oklahoma
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. As the state’s flagship university, OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of the state, region and nation. For more information about the university, visit www.ou.edu.
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