Alumni Ambassador Program

Alumni Ambassador Program

The Gilman Alumni Ambassador Program is a diverse group of Gilman Scholarship recipients who have studied or interned abroad.

Gilman Alumni Ambassadors serve as official representatives of the U.S. Department of State’s Gilman International Scholarship Program. They provide testimonials about their Gilman Scholarship experiences at campus presentations and offer application tips via written articles, videos, webinars, and special events. The Gilman Alumni Ambassadors have been trained by the Gilman Scholarship Program.

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Gilman Alumni Ambassadors

Alexander Azar

Year: 2019

Home Institution: Bryant University

Country: Belgium

Living independently taught me a lot about the world and myself.

Alexandria Craven

Year: 2019

Home Institution: Winston-Salem State University

Country: Italy

My study abroad experience taught me to accept challenges with an open mind. Without this opportunity, I would have never gained knowledge of a new skill, built lifelong friendships and networked on an international scale.

Anyssa Q. El-Manfaa

Year: 2018

Home Institution: Community College of Philadelphia

Country: Japan

An international experience is for everyone — not just for a small demographic. Support and encouragement is here for you — within the Gilman Scholar community and beyond!

Ayyad Algabyali

Year: 2018

Home Institution: City College of New York

Country: Saudi Arabia

My experiences taught me that diversity is what makes one’s circle stronger.

Christal Juarez

Year: 2019

Home Institution: University of California, Davis

Country: Argentina & Chile

Being abroad helped me connect with myself at a deeper level [and with] what I am interested in and how I want to apply practices and innovations to my own communities.

Daniel Oliveira

Year: 2018

Home Institution: University of California, Davis

Country: Taiwan

Studying abroad helped me gain confidence and empathy.

Daniela Castro

Year: 2017

Home Institution: Florida State University

Country: France

My experiences abroad taught me that the sciences make life livable, but the arts make life worth living.

Gio Albert Caballero

Year: 2018

Home Institution: University of California, Santa Barbara

Country: Taiwan

Invest in relationships and experiences, and view the world with gratitude.

Isaac James

Year: 2018

Home Institution: Rollins College

Country: Morocco

My experience helped me see the beauty of diversity in this world and its people.

Jeydelyn Martinez

Year: 2015

Home Institution: Marquette University

Country: Spain

My study abroad semester taught me that there is no real growth without discomfort.

Katherine Cabrera

Year: 2019

Home Institution: Miami Dade College

Country: Indonesia

Say yes to every opportunity that comes your way. Even if it doesn’t work out, you took a chance and won’t regret it.

Madeline Aviles

Year: 2019

Home Institution: University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Country: Thailand

The moments that molded my experience weren’t those I spent sunbathing by the ocean, but the moments I struggled to communicate at night markets, scurried across busy streets and learned the respectful nature of the local culture.

Nancy Tumbarell

Year: 2019

Home Institution: Michigan State University

Country: Japan

Living abroad taught me how to build communities and tear down stereotypes.

Phounsith “Quincy” Yangh

Year: 2019

Home Institution: Gustavus Adolphus College

Country: Nepal

My trajectory as a budding academic, social and environmental justice activist, and global citizen grew tremendously.

Rachel Wong

Year: 2017

Home Institution: Macalester College

Country: South Korea

Being abroad as a Hong Konger American gave me clarity about my own intersectional identity through conversations about American society.

Rebecca Lawson

Year: 2019

Home Institution: University of Iowa

Country: Russia

I stepped out of my comfort zone and it changed me for the better.

Robert Lares

Year: 2018

Home Institution: University of Southern Mississippi

Country: United Kingdom

My disability kept me at home for a long time, but now I realize that in the United States of America, I am the limit of my own potential.

Sarah Geilman

Year: 2018

Home Institution: Brigham Young University

Country: China

While living abroad, I learned that no matter where we live, at our core, we are all people striving to learn, grow and belong.

Van Reynolds

Year: 2019

Home Institution: San Diego State University

Country: France

Qui n'avance pas, recule. If you're not moving forward, you're moving backwards.

Veronica Tuazon

Year: 2018

Home Institution: Stony Brook University

Country: Madagascar

I gained an invaluable global perspective and an experience I will never forget.

Vlad Blazhievskiy

Year: 2019

Home Institution: Nebraska Wesleyan University

Country: Germany

I was able to customize my experience with my interests and goals; this freedom allowed me to make a positive impression abroad and give back to my home community.

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