When Elias "EJ" Bailey ('27) received a Department of Defense (DOD) Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship in his first year at Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach, he had only one semester under his belt. Now, he is a rising junior studying Computer Science with more than just academic experience. From summer internships to studying abroad, EJ's experiences have taken him around the globe — and prepared him for the future.

SMART Internships

As SMART Scholars, students are provided with summer internships tailored to their STEM career path and degree program.

EJ’s 2024 summer internship at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Keyport, Washington, gave him a concrete idea of what it would be like to work for a government agency after graduation.

“My internship last summer was a good first experience with real-world work related to cybersecurity. I was able to build skills with a couple of coding languages and see how a project I worked on using some of that coding could be applied to important missions if it were developed further,” he said.

SMART Scholars also benefit from full tuition funding, stipends and job security after graduation. “Being a SMART Scholarship recipient has both allowed me to focus on classes during the school year and provided me with great opportunities to gain experience in my future career,” he said.

“I would suggest that other students apply because the benefits are generous, and it sets you on a direct path to a STEM-related job in the government upon graduation, which is a great, secure way to start your career.”

Elias "EJ" Bailey (left) studying abroad in Zambia.

Cultural Immersion With Impact

From studying abroad in Zambia to being an exchange student in Abu Dhabi, 2024 was full of new challenges and rewarding experiences for EJ. Though the program in Zambia was an unexpected choice, he was able to gain new perspectives about a culture and place unlike anything he had experienced prior.

"I wanted to do a summer program in general, and I was hoping to go somewhere in Europe, but it ended up that Zambia was really the only place that would work out,” he said. “I didn’t really know what to expect, but it was so much better than I could have imagined. Living in and experiencing different aspects and areas of another country for a few weeks was incredible, humbling and impactful."

Learn more about study abroad opportunities!


Growing Around the Globe

Though EJ had planned to study abroad in Abu Dhabi for the entire 2024-25 school year, circumstances arose that caused him to return to the Daytona Beach Campus for the 2025 spring semester. EJ finished the fall semester strong, displaying resilience, adapting to his circumstances even when they didn’t meet his expectations.

Recalling these adjustments, EJ shared, “I think mostly it was just effort though, continuing to try my best even though I could have let my effort slip when it got hard — I felt accomplished for doing better than I expected.”

Back to the Basics

Returning to Embry‑Riddle for the spring semester, EJ was excited to reconnect with friends and share his experiences. Finishing the 2024-25 school year in Daytona Beach and working as a cybersecurity intern with the DOD this summer, EJ is returning to what he knows — but he hasn’t forgotten the journey that brought him here.

Finding pride in his accomplishments over the past year, EJ offered this advice, “To other students considering study abroad trips, I would say absolutely go for it, look at the ways you might be able to fit it into your plan for your degree and do it as early as possible. Pursue these opportunities because it takes a lot of work on your part, but it’s worth it.” The challenges that he overcame, the lessons he learned and the relationships he cultivated will stick with him for a lifetime.

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