Siblings Jackie and Jordan Gebhardt have lived in 8 different places. This past year they added one more to their list through the ACU study abroad program– Leipzig, Germany.

Jackie and Jordan were both born in Palm Springs, California but since their dad is in the Army, this meant moving 10 times throughout their childhood, and often calling many different places their home. Their moves took them from California to Texas, Colorado, Maryland, Virginia, New York, South Korea, and back to Texas multiple times, before eventually settling in Austin. Jackie, who is a sophomore majoring in biomedical sciences, wasn’t too fond of the idea of having to move again, even if it was only temporary.

“As an army brat, I moved around a ton as a kid and that led to me really valuing community, as in like, long-term community, and I didn’t want study abroad to get in the way of that.”

Jackie and Jordan reunite with their dad after deployment (Photo provided by Jackie Gebhardt)

Jackie is on a pre-health track, so every semester counts if graduating on time is the end goal. When she heard that ACU was taking a group of students to Leipzig, Germany for a global healthcare class in June, 2026, she began to weigh out the options.

“As soon as I heard it I was like ‘Wow that sounds so exciting, I want to do that,’” Jackie Gebhardt said. “It honestly checked all of my boxes, also, my older brother Jordan went to Leipzig the semester before and at the time when I applied he hadn’t gone yet.”

Jackie got to hear all about her brother’s experience studying abroad in spring 2026, which stirred up excitement for her turn. In addition, she applied to the same scholarship as her brother, in hopes that it would relieve some of the financial burden.

“[The scholarship] allowed him to be able to go, so I was like ‘Okay, whatever I might go on this trip, I’ll apply,’” Jackie Gebhardt said. “I got this scholarship and it was one of the only reasons that I was able to go financially, and it’s a really great program.”

The Gilman-McCain Scholarship collaborates with the U.S. Department of State to give undergraduate children of active or activated United States military personnel during the time of application an opportunity to go study or intern abroad. The $5,000 scholarship covers roughly about 75% of the expenses for a summer abroad and a smaller portion for the semester abroad, which can offer significant help.

This scholarship is an extension of the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program and is eligible for students enrolled at the accredited U.S. colleges and universities who receive any type of Title IV federal financial aid, according to the Gilman Scholarship website. Receiving this scholarship is a meaningful opportunity as the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship is heavily encouraged by the Honors college for students wanting to study or pursue an internship abroad.

Jordan, junior mechanical engineering major, studied abroad in the spring of 2026, and unlike Jackie, Jordan had his heart set on studying abroad even before going to college.

“I knew from before I came to ACU at all, that I wanted to go abroad, and I intentionally worked to make that happen,” Jordan Gebhardt said. “So within the first semester freshman year, I had already applied.”

During the time they spent living in Korea, Jordan felt that it was extra challenging for him because the years that they spent there were restricted due to the Covid pandemic that put traveling on hold.

“I especially felt kind of cheated out of that, it was external circumstances, there was nothing that could be done, but I really wanted the chance to be able to actually live somewhere else for a change without a global pandemic going on.”

Jackie, being only one year younger than Jordan, could relate with how he felt. For her, however, the hardest part was being uprooted every time they moved.

“I always loved moving growing up as a little kid because it was always an adventure and my whole life God has always provided wherever we’ve been through friends, through school, through family and all of that,” Jackie Gebhardt said. “However, the moves as I got older got way harder.”

Jackie recalls the move from South Korea being especially hard, along with the move from Austin to Abilene because she had built a very strong community. She didn’t want to be relocated again after settling in college by going abroad. In retrospect, Jackie is now glad that she studied abroad and brought home many stories of her own to tell.

This experience was the first for the both of them that wasn’t shared with a family member, or at least not directly. This time, they were creating their own personal experiences

“[Jackie’s experience] was super quick, it was all ‘go, go, go,’ from the start to the finish. Mine was a lot slower, like I had entire weeks where I was spending time just in Leipzig, just living day to day life,” Jordan said. 

Jordan Gebhardt takes a selfie after hiking the Austrian Alps (Photo provided by Jordan Gebhardt)

Jordan was abroad for about 13 weeks, while Jackie was there for only a month. They both got to experience Leipzig in different ways. Jordan recalls hiking the Austrian Alps as his favorite memory and Jackie loved to simply walk around and experience the culture.

“One weekend we went to a festival, it was the Bachfest fest in downtown Leipzig,” Jackie said. “I tried currywurst and it changed my life.” 

Unlike their previous moves, their time in Germany came with a sense of familiarity because it was through ACU’s study abroad program. It was less scary than moving into the unknown where they didn’t know anyone besides each other. 

“I think the most different part for me was that I went with friends versus moving into a new place alone– I mean of course I had Jordan,” Jackie said. “Growing up we were that person for each other but coming in with already multiple close friends and already going on adventures together during that made it a lot more exciting. It was a safety net.” 

Jackie poses for a picture in Berlin (Photo provided by Jackie Gebhardt)

Jordan on the other hand didn’t know anyone going into it.

“That definitely changed how the whole semester went in general,” Jordan said. “I think it was actually really nice just being able to not go in with any expectations, to be able to form those as I go.” 

Jordan benefited from getting to explore a new place without the familiarity of traveling with family. 

“It really helps to build that self-confidence and just be able to do some of those adulting things that you need to just figure out on your own,” Jordan said. 

Jackie is glad that she didn’t shy away from this experience and she believes it becomes what each person makes of it. 

“Take full advantage of your time there and don’t be afraid to put yourself in uncomfortable circumstances,” Jackie said.