Ten Undergraduates Awarded Gilman Scholarships to Study Abroad

This post was originally published on the Illinois News Bureau on January 12, 2015.

by David Schug

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Ten University of Illinois undergraduates have been awarded Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships to study abroad in the spring semester. Illinois ranks sixth in the nation in the number of Gilman Scholarships for the upcoming semester.

“The Illinois recipients are motivated and accomplished students representing five different colleges across campus,” said Richelle Bernazzoli of the University of Illinois National and International Scholarships Program. “They will expand the reach of our university to diverse destinations on four different continents.”

The nationally competitive Gilman Scholarship application process is coordinated cooperatively at Illinois, with the Office of Student Financial Aid and various campus study abroad offices advertising the scholarship and the National and International Scholarships Program offering reviews of student materials and feedback to Illinois applicants.

The U. of I. recipients are among the 800 U.S. undergraduates awarded scholarships from a pool of 2,500 applicants. To be eligible for the award, students must demonstrate financial need by receiving a federal Pell Grant for their current studies. Scholars receive up to $5,000 to apply toward their study abroad program costs. A limited number of Critical Need Language Scholarships are given each year that provide $8,000.

The Gilman Scholarship Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs to diversify the kinds of students who study abroad and their destinations. Over the past decade, Gilman recipients have studied in 140 nations. Applications for summer or fall 2015 Gilman study abroad scholarships are due by March 3.

The Gilman Scholarship program honors U.S. Rep. Benjamin A. Gilman, of New York, a former chair of the House Foreign Relations Committee who retired in 2002 after serving 30 years in the House of Representatives.

The national list of students who have been selected as Gilman Scholars, including students’ home state, university, and country of study, is available online.

“Just as this group of Illinois Gilman Scholars no doubt found inspiration in the experiences of the scholars who preceded them, the newest Gilman Scholars will motivate their peers to explore study abroad options,” said David Schug, director of National and International Scholarships. “We look forward to working with the next group of applicants as a means of providing them access to this incredible experience.”

GILMAN SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

CHICAGO – Hei Chan, a sophomore in integrative biology, University of Melbourne, Australia; Yan Chen, a junior in agricultural and consumer economics, Alliance Shanghai, China; Ladonte Prince, senior in chemistry, CEA Shanghai, China
LOVES PARK – Grace Procopio, sophomore in interdisciplinary health sciences,
CIEE Khon Kaen, Thailand
MOUNT PROSPECT – Luis Garay, junior in civil engineering, Engineering in Denmark - Copenhagen
OLYMPIA FIELDS – Tatiana Smith, junior in psychology and communication,
SAO Exchange: Stockholm University, Sweden
ROSCOE – Alejandra Reyes Pena, junior in broadcast journalism, CIEE Liberal Arts in Salvador, Brazil
SCHAUMBURG – Jessica Mattick, junior in biochemistry, SAO Exchange: Stockholm University, Sweden
MARCO ISLAND, FLORIDA – Vanessa Grisko, junior in communication and in earth, society and environmental sustainability, International Sustainable Development Studies Institute, Thailand
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – James Buckland, junior in mechanical engineering, Engineering in Sweden - Stockholm

Posted in: Gilman Scholarship,INSPIRE