by Amy Farnum-Patronis, FSU Communications, and COSSPP communications staff
A record number of Florida State University students are studying or interning around the world this summer thanks to prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships from the U.S. Department of State. Eight students with majors in the college are among the 28 Gilman Scholars, the most in school history.
The Gilman Scholarship is a grant program that gives students the opportunity to study or intern abroad and emphasizes learning about culture and language to prepare individuals for a globalized world.
Students who receive federal Pell Grant funding are eligible to apply for the Gilman Scholarship. Winners receive up to $5,000 toward study abroad or internship program costs with additional funding available for the study of a critical language overseas.
“The Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship is an instrumental tool for Pell Grant-receiving students to access international opportunities, and the success of these 28 individuals is pivotal as FSU becomes the largest institution to add an experiential learning requirement,” said Jesse Wieland, assistant director of the Office of National Fellowships. “These students demonstrate that experiential opportunities aren’t confined to the borders of Florida State University and are accessible to anyone despite their financial circumstance.”
The program encourages students to study and intern in a diverse array of countries and world regions. Florida State’s Gilman Scholars are studying in 15 different countries across the globe — from China to the Czech Republic.
“Students of the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy typically make up a large percentage of national awards and scholarships,” noted COSSPP Dean Tim Chapin. “We’re so proud to see these outstanding students – more than one-fourth of this year’s recipients – being able to access the valuable experiential learning opportunity that studying and working abroad provides.”
Since 2001, the Gilman Scholarship program has enabled more than 28,000 American students of diverse backgrounds to engage in a meaningful educational experience abroad. The late Congressman Gilman, for whom the scholarship is named, served in the House of Representatives for 30 years and chaired the House Foreign Relations Committee. He was honored with the Secretary of State’s Distinguished Service Medal in 2002.
For more information, visit the Office of National Fellowships, which introduces students to scholarship programs they may be eligible for and helps facilitate the application process.
The 2019 Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship winners from the college are listed below by majors and country of study or internship:
Allyn Roa, Senior, International Affairs; Czech Republic
Ranya Ayoub, Junior, International Affairs; Morocco
Johndee Breedlove, Senior, Interdisciplinary Social Science; Cameroon
Darrien Dahunsi, Sophomore, International Affairs; Panama
Jalicia Lewis, Senior, Political Science and Public Relations; Peru
Brenda Dorvil, Junior, Political Science; Ghana
Kenia Alcy, Senior, Social Science; Ghana
Modelyne Saintelus, Junior, International Affairs; Ghana