Since 2022, the Gilman International Scholarship Program, a merit-based program administered by the U.S. Department of State, has awarded UHD students more than $72,000 in travel scholarships.
Four more UHD students received a scholarship this year: Montserrat Serrano, Gia Tran, Evonna Weaver, and Nicholas Gallo.
Gallo, who’s studying supply chain management, opted to study in Japan, as did the other three scholarship recipients.
“We spent two weeks in three different cities in Japan,” Gallo said. “Tokyo was my favorite, but one of the things that surprised me most was how much I learned from visiting Kyoto, which is more rural, and Osaka.”
Everyone who applies for a scholarship must submit three essays, including one that states the applicant’s reason for applying and two that focus on how the scholarship could impact the student’s community.
According to Claudia Baba, Associate Director of UHD’s Office of Study Abroad, students are invited to attend a virtual information session before applying for a Gilman Program scholarship.
“We have alumni who do virtual info sessions, so our students learn how to write effective essays,” Baba said. “It helps to squelch what we call ‘application anxiety.’”
Since Baba’s office began tracking the number of Gilman Program recipients, 21 UHD students have been selected.
For Gallo, the Gilman Program scholarship filled the gap between what UHD gave him through its travel scholarship program and what the trip actually cost. The Gilman Program scholarship is open to any student who receives a federal Pell Grant to subsidize his/her college education.
“It’s a very competitive process, so it felt like a great accomplishment,” Gallo said. “I competed against multiple students from across the nation.”
The Gilman Program was established by the U.S. Congress’ International Academic Opportunity Act of 2000. Since the program’s inception, more than 44,000 scholarships overall have been awarded, with 60% of all recipients hailing from small towns or rural communities.
Along with three written essays, every applicant must provide a transcript and description of the study abroad program he/she would like to pursue. Only programs that offer college credits toward a student’s graduation requirements are eligible.
“When I work with students, the number one thing for them to keep in mind is that they need to stay on track for graduation,” Baba said. “Electives are fine—given the approval of a faculty advisor—but the majority of classes taken abroad will come back as transfer credits that apply to a student’s graduation requirements.”
According to Baba, studying abroad helps students in myriad ways.
“I strongly believe the challenges facing young people today—things like political divisiveness—will be met by leaders who know how to build relationships and work effectively with different cultures,” Baba said. “It’s the only way.”
For more information on the Gilman International Scholarship Program, contact Claudia Baba, Associate Director of UHD’s Office of Study Abroad, at studyabroad@uhd.edu.