Gilman Scholar Everett Elam was first inspired to study abroad after hearing a Gilman Scholar’s Follow-on Service Project presentation at the University of Arkansas, Little Rock. As a blind student studying music and the Spanish language, Everett was interested in exploring the rich musical culture of Spain, and improving his Spanish speaking skills. While abroad, Everett stayed with a host family and took intensive language courses. He also immersed himself in the traditional Spanish music community by participating in gatherings of musicians and learning new techniques to play on the fiddle.
Everett and his girlfriend Emily with their fiddles in Salamanca, Spain.
Since returning from his experience abroad, Everett has become an outspoken advocate of study abroad for students with disabilities. He has presented about his study abroad experience and the Gilman Scholarship to numerous groups in his community, and created an “abroadcast:” an audio-story about studying abroad that transports the listener to Spain how Everett experienced it: through sound.
Are you a Gilman alumni with a story to share? E-mail gilman_scholars@iie.org to share it with us!
