Anthony Spiegel may not be a typical College of Natural Resources student. The senior from Milwaukee, who is studying soil science and land management, is following his own path. This semester, that path led him to France on a first-ever federal scholarship awarded to a UW-Stevens Point student.
The path began in the Black Hills of South Dakota, where Spiegel worked as a fire lookout in the summer of 2020. He spent much of his time alone. “To keep myself sane, I saw two options: write philosophical nature essays or learn a second language.”
Spiegel tried the first one and soon opted for the second. He started learning French with the help of an online tutor. He eventually decided to minor in French at UW-Stevens Point. “The looks I received when I told people I’m taking on a French minor were priceless,” he said.
While initially insecure with his French proficiency, he was learning an important lesson: “I’m going to live my life how I want to.”
Spiegel wanted to experience life in Europe. “It was a bold move for me, as I’d never left the country before.” He explored working in various capacities before concluding — with the help of Katya Leek, advisor in the Office of International Education — that UW-Stevens Point’s study abroad program was the best opportunity for him.
Anthony Spiegel, a natural resources major at UW-Stevens Point, studies French and enjoys local cuisine and culture in France this semester.
The search began for how to pay for it. Spiegel applied for a Gilman Scholarship, a federally funded program for undergraduates with the highest financial need. Offered through the U.S. State Department, the program helps fund studying abroad with a goal of promoting American economic competitiveness and national security. Applicants must show they are capable of being responsible ambassadors for the United States, partaking in cultural exchange, and expressing the diversity and values of American culture.
The application process was rigorous. Spiegel wrote three essays, secured adviser recommendations and created a project to complete after travel. He was not confident that someone without a French major would stand a chance to win this national award.
He did win – and it almost slipped out of his grasp. One morning, he noticed an email was blocked by the UWSP postmaster, which flags spam and security threats. “Usually, I delete these, but out of random curiosity, I decided to open it,” he said. It was the good news from Gilman.
“This email confirmed I should not be insecure about the ‘strange’ path I’m taking through college, and that I’m on my own path paved by my own desires and dreams.”
Spiegel is the only person from UW-Stevens Point in the program at Université de Caen Normandie this semester. Intimidating at first, he said, “this forces me to escape my comfort zone, and I’ve been loving meeting people from all around the world.”
He lives in Caen with a host family. He enjoys local cuisine at a more leisurely pace, supports local Normandy businesses – notably the boulangerie, or bakery – and enjoys talking to local residents. “Other than tripling my daily carb intake, I’m trying to experience an authentic French lifestyle,” Spiegel said.
He primarily studies French but is also observing a class in French, “Dynamics between Urban and Rural Spaces.” Spiegel is interested in a career in urban planning and is fascinated to learn the French approach to geography and cities.
Building equitable, efficient and sustainable cities is one way to manage natural resources, he notes.
“Worldwide problems require worldwide solutions,” Spiegel said. “Ecological and environmental problems will forever be a worldwide issue, and the world needs to cooperate if we want to get something done about it. Here I am in France, learning another language in the hopes that I can inspire a bigger audience to show how important it is to protect our natural resources.
“Even if I am not able to use French in my daily professional life, I will use the experiences and lessons I’ve learned here, in whatever career I choose.”