For Lourdes Cardozo Gaibisso, “home” is more than just a place—it’s something people create. “I believe el lugar lo hace uno: ‘the place is made by the person,’” she said. “My mom taught me this when I was a child, and I carry that lesson with me. I try to foster a sense of belonging for students who are far from home by creating a welcoming environment where they feel valued and respected.”

Mississippi State University sophomore Isabelle Stewart is the fourth annual recipient of the FOX Weather Scholarship, a long-term partnership between the weather mogul and MSU that supports students pursuing careers in meteorology.

For Mississippi State University graduate Alijah Jones, the road to a Fulbright Scholarship began in the stillness of the pandemic. Feeling a lack of connection, Jones said he “indulged” in internet browsing, happening upon a YouTube video––“Dinner with my Italian Host Family.” Stepping outside the loneliness of isolation, he found not just a glimpse into another culture, but a spark that would one day take him across the world.