CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Nine University of Illinois undergraduates have been awarded Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships to study abroad this semester. Illinois is among the top 15 schools in the nation in terms of number of recipients.
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.
“Illinois’ success over the past several years is because of the outstanding collaboration among those offices,” said Ryan Tomasiewicz, the acting director of the National and International Scholarships Program.
U. of I. recipients, their programs and destinations include (EDITORS: See list).
The U. of I. recipients are among the 900 U.S. undergraduates awarded scholarships from a pool of 2,700. 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 116 nations. Applications for summer or fall 2013 Gilman study abroad scholarships are due by March 5.
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.
GILMAN SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
AURORA – Hugo Cano, a junior in political science, Vienna Diplomatic Program at universities in Vienna
CAROL STREAM – Viviana Afanador, a junior in global studies, CIEE Language and Culture Program in Rabat, Morocco; Tien Ta, a junior in accountancy, Nanyang Business School at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore
CHAMPAIGN – Isalia Ramirez, a junior in agricultural and consumer economics, Agribusiness and International Development Program at Njala University in Freetown, Sierra Leone
HANOVER PARK – Lindsay Anderson, a junior in East Asian languages and cultures, IES Japanese Language and Society Program at Kanda University of International Studies in Tokyo
OAK LAWN – Nicholas Musso, a junior in natural resources and environmental sciences, Lincoln University in Christchurch, New Zealand
WHEELING – Sheela Bhayani, a sophomore in molecular and cellular biology, Spanish Year Abroad at University of Barcelona, Spain
WILMETTE – Kristen Yang, a sophomore in accountancy, Nanyang Business School at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore
WORTH – Kyle Trembley, a junior in religion, Alliance for Global Education Program in Varanasi, India
