Eight University of Oregon students have been awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to study abroad in fall 2019, ranking the UO at No. 10 in the nation for fall recipients.
In summer 2019, the UO ranked at No. 6 in the nation, adding to the university’s continuous effort to promote access to opportunities on campus and around the world. The Gilman Scholarship, administered by the Institute of International Education, helps historically underrepresented students of limited financial means study or intern abroad, gaining skills that are critically important for their academic and professional career development.
Dennis Galvan, dean and vice provost for the Division of Global Engagement, believes study abroad experiences are valuable for students, which is why the division provides support for students to access funding opportunities like the Gilman Scholarship.
“We are so proud of these awards; they are a testimony to how good the UO is at opening life-changing international experiences to students who didn’t think they could ever go,” Galvan said. “Scholarships open the door for students who might worry they could never afford to study abroad. They allow students to walk through that door and have their lives permanently changed.”
The fall 2019 UO recipients, including their program of study, are:
- Ziru Bolen, Chinese Flagship Program, capstone year in China in Nanjing, China.
- Sophia Muhle Bruce, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Exchange in Mexico City.
- Carol Crum, global health, development and service learning in Accra, Ghana.
- Kylen Dahlstrom, Council on International Educational Exchange, Russian language in St. Petersburg, Russia.
- Crystal Franklin, Korea University exchange in Seoul, South Korea.
- Abbey McDonald, Charles University exchange in Prague, Czech Republic.
- Crystal-Candice Quaye, IE3 (International/Education/Experience/Employment), Lyon business, international studies and political science in Lyon, France.
- Isabella Rothe, Hanyang University exchange in Seoul, South Korea.
To be eligible for the Gilman Scholarship, students must be federal Pell Grant recipients. Gilman scholars receive up to $5,000 to apply toward study abroad or internship program costs, with additional funding available to students studying critical languages.
“At the Division of Global Engagement, we are deeply committed to making study abroad, with all its benefits in terms of career, confidence and cross-cultural engagement, available for every UO student,” Galvan said. “We want to completely eliminate financial barriers to a global education experience. That’s why our whole team, from advisors to program coordinators, do everything we can to get the largest number of Gilman awards possible.”
In an effort to further support students studying abroad, Global Education Oregon‘s dedicated staff guides students through their applications and assists them with revising their essays prior to submission. Several advisors have also served on the national selection panel for the Gilman Scholarship in order to gain key insights to help students submit an excellent Gilman application.Visit the Division of Global Engagement website for more information on the program and other global engagement opportunities.
—By Alyssa Hinojosa, University Communications