October 2024 Gilman Scholarship Application – NOW OPEN through October 10 at 11:59 PM PST

Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship

Javier Zarazua

Iowa State University to Host Virtual Cybersecurity Seminar for Gilman Alumni

On December 10 and 11, Iowa State University will host a virtual U.S. Future Leaders Topical Seminar for approximately 50 alumni of the U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program.  The seminar, focusing on cybersecurity, is part of the State Department’s ongoing effort to position Gilman alumni as future American leaders across public and private sectors in fields of importance to U.S. national security and economic prosperity.

Gilman alumni working in the field of cybersecurity will participate in virtual trainings designed to further develop their topical expertise and hone their leadership skills.  They will also expand their professional networks through virtual engagements with U.S. leaders from the public and private sectors.  Alumni will leave the virtual seminar with the industry knowledge and cross-cultural skills they need to further build their careers in cybersecurity.

View the press release here.

Pima Community College to Host Virtual Technology and Entrepreneurship Career Seminar for Gilman Alumni

On December 4, Pima Community College will host a virtual U.S. Future Leaders Career Readiness Seminar for approximately 50 alumni of the U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program.  The seminar, focusing on technology and entrepreneurship, is part of the State Department’s ongoing effort to help Gilman alumni turn their experiences abroad into meaningful careers in fields critical to U.S. national security and economic prosperity.

Attendees will hone their abilities to describe the skills they have gained abroad on resumes, during interviews, and while networking.  Through virtual skill-building activities and employer panels, alumni will explore how to capitalize upon their new language abilities, regional knowledge, and cross-cultural communication skills to launch impactful public health careers.

View the press release here.

University of Oregon to Host U.S. Department of State Virtual Workshop for Study Abroad Advisors

On September 18, the University of Oregon will host a daylong virtual workshop for approximately 60 study abroad advisors on best practices in supporting candidates for two prestigious U.S. Department of State programs, the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program and the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program. This workshop is part of the State Department’s continuing efforts to increase and diversify the institutions and students participating in both the Gilman and CLS programs.

View the press release here.

Northwestern University to Host Virtual Public Health Career Seminar for Gilman Alumni

On July 31, Northwestern University will host a virtual U.S. Future Leaders Career Readiness Seminar for approximately 50 alumni of the U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program.  The seminar, focusing on public health, is part of the State Department’s ongoing effort to help Gilman alumni turn their experiences abroad into meaningful careers in fields critical to U.S. national security and economic prosperity.

Attendees will hone their abilities to describe the skills they have gained abroad on resumes, during interviews, and while networking.  Through virtual skill-building activities and employer panels, alumni will explore how to capitalize upon their new language abilities, regional knowledge, and cross-cultural communication skills to launch impactful public health careers.

“Gilman Scholars, whether through an internship or study abroad experience, gain critical skills to adapt and function in a cross-cultural environment,” said Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Marie Royce.  “We are pleased to support our outstanding Gilman alumni through these career-enhancing initiatives.”

The Gilman Program is a program of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by the Institute of International Education.  The Gilman Program provides over 3,000 scholarships a year to outstanding American undergraduate students who, due to financial constraints, might not otherwise study abroad.  Since the Program began in 2001, more than 30,000 Gilman scholars from all U.S. states and territories have studied in nearly 150 countries.

The Gilman Program has yielded extraordinary results in supporting first-generation college students, ethnic and racial minority students, students with disabilities, student veterans, students attending two-year and minority serving institutions, and other populations underrepresented in study abroad, as well as broadening the diversity of destinations where scholars study or intern.

“International education should be part of every student’s academic career,” said Secretary of State Michael Pompeo. “Educational exchanges, whether it’s Americans going overseas or foreigners coming to the U.S., are among the most important tools in our diplomatic arsenal.”

To learn more about the Gilman Program and how its diverse alumni are entering into impactful careers in the government, non-profit, and private sectors, contact eca-press@state.gov and visit www.gilmanscholarship.org.

To learn more about study abroad programs and opportunities at Northwestern University, please contact Sara Tully at sara.tully@northwestern.edu or 847-491-8293.

Career Readiness Seminar Press Release – Northwestern

Gilman Alumnus Celebrates Americans with Disabilities Act 30th Anniversary

The 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is this Sunday, July 26th. This important civil rights law prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public. The purpose of the law is to make sure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.

In honor of this milestone, Gilman Alumnus Isaac Garcia (Netherlands, 2019) shared his story of studying abroad as a person with disabilities and his advice for other students with disabilities hoping to study or intern abroad.

Isaac writes, “I studied abroad in Amsterdam at the University of Amsterdam in the spring semester of 2019. All in all my study abroad experience was great. I traveled to 5 countries in 6 months and made amazing friends for life. Adjusting to the culture was a little bit difficult and shopping for groceries can be hard if you do not understand Dutch. The little pictures on packages helped out though. Being a disabled student abroad was quite difficult. I was under the impression that my university in the states would reach out to my host university and make sure all my accommodations were met. This was not the case. Even after I discussed my disabilities with my professors, it was not until nearly the end of my stay that I got my accommodations written in writing through the University of Amsterdam.

“If you are a disabled student going abroad first of all, congratulations. That is a huge accomplishment. If I had any suggestions I would look at all the different resources that you can utilize before your trip. Mobility international USA is an amazing organization that helps disabled students to make sure their needs are met abroad. Wish I would have known about them sooner. Advocate more for yourself and make sure that your university has done all that can possibly be done to ensure you have everything you need to succeed abroad. I think if you can have your home university connect you directly to your university abroad before you leave that would be a major benefit to anybody going abroad.

“The Americans with Disabilities Act is such an important piece of legislation for those of us who need extra assistance for any reason. The ADA helps us turn our disabilities into abilities without fear of discrimination. The ADA means that me and so many other incredible disabled people have a voice in society. With that being said I can’t help but be shocked that the ADA has only been around for 30 years. Advocacy for the ADA did not begin 30 years ago. People with disabilities have been fighting for these basic rights for years before 1990. While I am impressed that we have come a long way in disability inclusion, I recognize we have a long way to go to be truly equal in society. I thank the Gilman Scholarship for their constant effort to include individuals with disabilities abroad and domestically.”

The Gilman Scholarship is proud to support the Americans with Disabilities Act 30th Anniversary. Learn more about the ADA at data.org/national-network. Find resources for disability access to international exchange at MIUSA.org.

Gilman Alumnus named Outstanding Senior at West Virginia Wesleyan College

Gilman Alumnus Marcus Larrson (Rwanda & Uganda, 2019) is named Outstanding Senior at West Virginia Wesleyan College.
Larson is the co-captain of the men’s basketball team, vice president of the Black Student Union, president of Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honorary, a member of Phi Alpha Theta honorary, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee representative, and a resident assistant. He plans to pursue a master’s degree in international relations focusing on Africa.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Read more about Larrson’s accomplishments here.

Gilman Alumna Selected for Boren Awards

Gilman Alumna Sumar Beauti (United Kingdom, 2019) is selected as the University of Southern Mississippi’s first Boren Awards for International Study, a national award that provides funding for rigorous language study in world regions critical to U.S. interest. Beauti plans to study Arabic at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in hopes of becoming a physician-scientist collaborating with other countries to advance medical practices and close healthcare disparities in under-served communities all over the globe.

Read more about Beauti’s future plans here.

U.S. State Department and Education New Zealand Partnership Supports Gilman Scholars to New Zealand

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs is proud to continue its Gilman-Education New Zealand partnership.  The Gilman-Education New Zealand Scholarship is a prestigious program for high-achieving U.S. students wishing to study in New Zealand.  The Gilman-Education New Zealand Partnership was originally put into place in 2017 as the first government-to-government agreement in support of the Gilman Program.  Through renewing this agreement, Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) is committing $250,000 over the next five years to support the U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program’s scholars to study and/or intern for academic credit in New Zealand. This funding will be matched by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs which sponsors the Gilman Program worldwide.

View the press release here

 

Update on the Gilman Program in China

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) is closely monitoring the spread of the 2019-nCoV coronavirus in China. ECA views the health and well-being of exchange participants as its top priority. While ECA has not yet made a determination on the longer-term status of the Gilman Program in China for this year, due to the country’s Level 4 Travel Advisory  (“Do Not Travel”), Gilman Scholars scheduled to study abroad in China between now and the end of April 2020 are required to identify an alternate study abroad destination.

Given the quickly evolving nature of the health situation, we will continue to accept applications for China in the currently open application for programs that start between May 1, 2020, and April 30, 2021. This application will close on March 3, 2020. In the event that a student is selected for the Gilman Program and China still has a Level 3 or 4 Travel Advisory, then the student would be required to change their program location. We will continue to keep you updated as the situation evolves. Please feel free to contact the Gilman team at 1-800-852-2141, ext. 2 or gilmanadvisors@iie.orgwith any questions or concerns, or StudyAbroad@state.gov if you have questions regarding ECA’s other exchange programs for U.S. students. We also strongly encourage you to read the entire travel advisory for China, which includes important information from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Gilman-McCain Scholarship Recipient to study Archeology in Prague

Kya Crocker, junior in anthropology at Kansas State University, received the inaugural Gilman-McCain Scholarship to study in the Czech Republic. As an undergraduate researcher, Crocker analyzed archaeological evidence — such as stone tools, hominid migration patterns, and geographic/geological evidence — to interpret how early the Philippines were occupied by early hominids about 700,000 years ago. She also is working on a secondary major in international studies and a minor in political science.

“Linguistics and culture are my main areas of interest and I will have plenty of opportunities to learn about the Czech language and culture,” Crocker said to Kansas State University News. “The rich history of Prague has enticed me since I am definitely a history buff. All in all, this program has every attribute that I could look for in a study abroad program, and I’m so excited.”

The U.S. Department of State’s Gilman-McCain Scholarship provides awards of $5,000 for undergraduate child dependents of active duty service members to study or intern abroad on credit-bearing programs.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE BUREAU OF EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS

The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by the Institute of International Education (IIE).

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