Scholarship Helps Low-income Students Study Abroad
A record seven students recieved the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for fall 2011.
"If someone were to have asked me a few years ago if I was going to study abroad my answer would have definitely been no," Munoz said. "Coming from a low income family from a small community, those kinds of opportunities seemed impossible."
Munoz is one of a record seven students who received the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to study abroad for the fall 2011 semester. He will be studying psychology and Japanese in Japan this fall semester.
"When I found out that I had been chosen as a recipient for the Gilman Scholarship, I felt relieved and extremely happy," said Munoz. "I thought, 'Yes, this is what I've been waiting for!'"
Gilman Scholarship
The Gilman Scholarship is a government funded program that awards students with financial need up to $5,000 to study abroad for up to one academic year. The award can be used to pay for the study abroad program tuition, room and board, books, local transportation, insurance and international airfare.
To be eligible for the Gilman scholarship, students must be recipients of a Federal Pell Grant and receive academic credit for their study abroad experience.
"As more programs and majors require a study abroad component, the Gilman Scholarship is an excellent resource for students that face financial obstacles," said Patti Scott, director of SDSU’s Office of Academic Scholarships."Over the past four years we have seen a significant increase in the number of SDSU students applying for this highly competitive national scholarship and we are pleased that the 2011 fall cycle is our largest cohort of recipients to date."
SDSU ranks high in the nation for the number of students studying abroad as part of their college experience. The seven students who received the Gilman award will study in various countries all around the world.
- Bianca Alvarado- Uruguay; $2,500
- Eric Blank- Nicaragua; $3,500
- Estefania Castaneda- Japan; $5,000
- Deborah Miller- Spain; $3,000
- Munoz- Japan; $5,000
- Candice Schroeder- United Kingdom; $3,000
- Thomas Tiop- China; $5,000
Preparing for a global economy
The purpose of the Gilman Scholarship is to give students the opportunity to become better prepared for an increasingly global economy.
"Receiving the award means I get a chance to learn and experience a culture that I have been interested in for a long time," Munoz said. "It means that I have an opportunity to assist in strengthening the relationship between two countries. It means the start of new friendships and awesome adventures."
More information about Gilman
Students interested in finding out more about the Gilman scholarship and other study abroad scholarships can find information at the Office of Academic Scholarships.
The deadline to apply for the Gilman Scholarship for the spring 2012 semester is Oct. 4. Students can find eligibility requirements and the online application here.
