Mokahal at the Arc de Triomphe.

DETROIT — A Wayne State University student from Windsor, Canada, has made it to the finals in an international travel scholarship. The winner of the scholarship receives a $2,500 award towards his tuition, a paid internship at S-Trip, a student travel company in Toronto, and a free spring break vacation.

Hussein Mokahal is one of 15 finalists for the Amazing Travel Scholarship. Hundreds of students from across North America applied for the award.

Mokahal said he has been to 10 different countries, including France, the Netherlands, Dominican Republic, Kuwait and Lebanon. He received 1,500 votes in the first round of voting for the scholarship. At this stage, the winner will be picked based on social media success. 

The finalists submit blog posts about travel to the scholarship website and update their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with pictures and information about their past trips. Interactions on social media count as points for the contestants. The winner will be announced on May 30.

Mokahal, who is majoring in biology, said his favorite attractions are World War II memorials across Europe and the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, because of their historical significance.

“It is one things to read about events in the history books, but to experience them on the ground where they happened gives you the chance to connect with them,” he said. 

Mokahal chose Cancun, Mexico as the destination for his paid vacation if he wins the scholarship. He will also have the chance to bring a friend along.

Mokahal’s success in reaching the finals was displayed on a giant billboard on Greenfield Road in Dearborn. A picture of the billboard is included in his scholarship profile.

His social media posts can be reached on Twitter at @Itsrealtweets, Facebook at www.facebook.com/husseinmokahal and Instagram at hmokahal.