The Gilman program announced last month that the University ranks sixth nationally for the number of students receiving the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International scholarships.
The scholarship is awarded to qualified undergraduate students who will take part in an overseas study or internship during the academic year. Recipients collect up to $5,000 for an entire year of study abroad and pro-rated amounts for shorter programs. Upon return home, award winners are asked to complete a service requirement.
The intent of the scholarship is to enable and prepare students of restricted financial capability to succeed in an increasingly global society. The award is targeted toward minorities, those with disabilities and students who choose non-traditional destinations. The student population that studies abroad is significantly enlarged because of these awards.
During the 2006-07 academic year, 10 University students received the scholarship. The sixth-place slot is shared by the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras and the University of California, San Diego.
“Students who receive this award are ecstatic because it makes it possible for them to go abroad,” said Roger Adkins, the University’s overseas program coordinator. “The UO International Program really encourages students receiving the Pell Grant to think about the scholarship and studying abroad.”
The Gilman program is a congressionally funded program that is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Each year, the Gilman program tracks the number of students from American Colleges and Universities and ranks them accordingly. The likelihood of an applicant receiving the award is about one in three nationally and about 50 percent of the University’s applicants became Gilman Scholars last year.
This year’s University of Oregon Gilman Scholars will study or intern in Ecuador, China, Mexico, Senegal, Taiwan and Ethiopia. The University supports study abroad programs and internships in more than 80 different countries.
Students who receive Pell Grant funding at 2-year or 4-year universities and plan to study or intern abroad for at least four weeks are eligible to apply. Students can apply for the scholarship at the Office of Overseas Programs in Oregon Hall.
– Mandee Pearson