Seven University of Wisconsin–Madison students studying abroad through International Academic Programs (IAP) have received scholarships through the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships Program to help fund their study abroad programs.
Two students, studying abroad in the 2011-2012 academic year, were each awarded $5,000 in scholarships: Naira Ovsepyan, a senior political science and Russian major, will study in St. Petersburg, Russia, while Lily Feng, a senior computer science major, will study in Tokyo, Japan. Josh Cook, a sophomore electrical engineering major, was awarded $5,000 in scholarships to spend the summer semester in Tianjin, China, while Alicia Monatague Keels, a junior elementary education major, is also studying in Tianjin, China this summer, on a $4,500 scholarship. Three thousand dollars was awarded to senior Emily Thiel, an international agriculture and natural resources major, to study in Granada, Spain. Evelin Rodriguez, a senior political science and sociology major, will receive $2,500 for her program in Chile, and Erica Dickerson, a junior undeclared major was awarded $1,500 to assist her program in Capetown, South Africa.
IAP has financial advisors available for students who are interested in learning more about scholarships and funding their study abroad experience. More information on financial planning can be found on the IAP website.
The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program offers grants for U.S. citizen undergraduate students of limited financial means to pursue academic studies abroad. Such international study is intended to prepare U.S. students to better assume significant roles in an increasingly global economy and interdependent world.
International experience is critically important in the educational and career development of American students, but it can also require a substantial financial investment. The Gilman Scholarship Program broadens the student population that studies abroad by supporting undergraduates who might not otherwise participate due to financial constraints. The program encourages students to choose non-traditional study abroad destinations, especially those outside of Western Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. The Gilman Scholarship Program aims to support students who have been traditionally under-represented in study abroad, including but not limited to, students with high financial need, community college students, students in under-represented fields such as the sciences and engineering, students with diverse ethnic backgrounds, and students with disabilities. The program seeks to assist students from a diverse range of public and private institutions from all 50 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico.
Award recipients are chosen by a competitive selection process and must use the award to defray eligible study abroad costs. These costs include program tuition, room and board, books, local transportation, insurance, and international airfare.
This congressionally funded program is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State and is administered by the Institute of International Education through its Southern Regional Center in Houston, TX.