While study abroad can be an important and life-changing college experience, many students feel it is out of their reach.
Chandler Roberts ’18, an art history major, wanted to study abroad to explore a new culture and looked to the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to make that experience possible.
The Gilman Scholarship Program was created to diversify the kinds of students who study and intern abroad and the countries and regions where they go by offering awards to United States undergraduates who might otherwise not participate due to financial constraints. The Gilman Scholarship is a competitive, need based federal grant for students studying abroad for a minimum of four weeks. For eligibility requirements, visit their website.
“I wanted to study abroad to interact with and experience a new culture, study and practice the German language, study and see some of the amazing art in Austria and to travel and see new places,” Roberts said.
Roberts also applied for the Marian University McKinney Travel Grant and received an award of $1,750. With help from both the Gilman Scholarship and the McKinney Travel Grant, Roberts studied abroad at Salzburg College in Salzburg, Austria for an entire semester last fall.
“Studying abroad made me a much more confident person overall. It helped me to be a more independent student and traveler. It allowed me to see the world and the U.S. from different perspectives,” Roberts said. “It allowed me to make connections with Austrians and to experience their unique culture. And it allowed me to learn so much about things like Austrian history, European culture, and global politics that I would not have learned if I didn’t study abroad.”
Beyond the monetary help, the Gilman Scholarship also created unique abroad experiences for Roberts. During his time in Austria, he met with the U.S. Ambassador to Austria at a special event in Vienna and participated in service projects that promote study abroad.
Visit the university’s website to learn more about the many grant and scholarship opportunities available to Marian University students.
