Last school year, two students were awarded scholarships from the Benjamin A. Gilman’s International Scholarship Program, allowing their study abroad experiences to come to life.
According to the program’s website, the scholarship aims to help students “of limited financial means” fulfill their dreams of studying abroad.
The program is currently accepting applications online from students whose study-away experiences fall between Dec. 1, 2024, to Oct. 31, 2025. The deadline to apply is Oct. 10.
Director of International and Off-Campus Programs, Steven Duke, said the Gilman program is the “largest government-funded scholarship process.”
Senior Morgan Janes was one of the two recipients last year and said the program cut down the cost of his study abroad trip “tremendously.”
“The cost of Tokyo was about $5,000. I coupled my Augie Choice with that, which was an additional $2,000 [on top of the $300 deposit], and so I had $2,300,” Morgan said. “So, I had about half. I actually requested [about] $2,500 which would have gotten me close to bridging the gap. They actually gave me $3,000.”
The website states that over half of Gilman scholars come from rural communities, along with many recipients being first-generation college students. Duke said students must be Pell Grant eligible to apply.
“I didn’t have a lot of resources to get into Augustana. And, to then travel 6,300 miles and back on my own with this class,” Morgan said. “So, part of my story was that whole journey of growth that I got from it.”
Junior Marlene Cabada received the award in May of this year and said she is using the scholarship towards her upcoming study abroad trip to Seoul, Korea. Cabada said she will attend Kookmin University for her major, graphic design.
“It’s been eye-opening that someone like me could be able to receive funds like this [to study] abroad,” she said.
In order to receive the grant, the website states applicants must submit three essays stating why they want to study away and how their experience will give back to the community.
Last winter, Morgan received the award and was able to study in Japan for his J-term cultural studies class. Morgan said he was later able to present photos of his trip in an in-depth presentation regarding how the scholarship benefited his study abroad experience.
“They paid for a full Nikon camera set for me,” Morgan said.
Morgan said he will be hosting a presentation about his scholarship experience on Nov. 1 in Old Main 128 and encourages any students curious about scholarships to attend.
For students interested in learning more about the Gilman scholarship and other study abroad scholarships, Duke said his office, located inside the Olin CORE Commons, is open anytime.
“There’s a lot of money available for students to study abroad, but it depends on their willingness to be persistent in pursuing different scholarships and options,” Duke said. “It’s absolutely possible for students to actually receive quite a bit of money.”
