Gilman scholarships enable 4 Honors students to study abroad
6 – minute read
Four Florida Gulf Coast University students in the Honors College were awarded the U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship and other grants that enabled them to enhance their learning and career preparation by studying abroad.
The Gilman program provides up to $9,000 in merit-based scholarships to outstanding American undergraduate students with significant financial need to help them pursue credit-earning academic studies and internships overseas. These opportunities enable Gilman scholars to gain international experience, build global networks and hone foreign language skills that are advantageous in applying for competitive graduate programs or jobs.
“When FGCU students earn highly competitive awards, it highlights both the strength of our students and the institution’s investment in excellence, opportunity and global engagement,” said Hilal Peker, director of FGCU’s Office of Competitive Fellowships.
The office’s staff teams with the Global Engagement Office to identify best-fit study abroad programs for students and help them submit polished, competitive applications that align with the criteria of programs like the Gilman, she said.
“Our approach is high-touch and individualized,” Peker said. “We get to know each student, build a tailored scholarship plan and provide sustained one-on-one coaching through drafting, revision and final submission.”
FGCU’s latest Gilman recipients shared what they learned from their overseas experiences in their own words.
Joseph Brace
Senior environmental studies major from Ocean City, New Jersey
Brace received the Gilman scholarship as well as the Perez Family Study Abroad Scholarship and a Global Learning Grant. He spent four months last spring in San Jose, Costa Rica, studying at La Universidad de Veritas.
“I enrolled in both ecology and Spanish classes, improving my skills in both the sciences and in foreign languages. Most importantly, the ability to immerse myself in another culture is what immediately appealed to me about studying abroad. From the food, to the values and traditions, to the everyday lifestyle in a country other than my own, I believe that studying abroad offers students a great opportunity to develop both personally and intellectually. Secondly, as a Spanish minor, speaking a foreign language on a day-to-day basis allowed me to improve my fluency in a quicker manner than I would have in the U.S.
“As someone who wants to study ecology on a global scale, the ability to work in foreign countries will be monumental in my career moving forward. Many of our environmental issues aren’t contained within territorial borders such as those in policy or economics. Fixing these issues will require more complete collaboration from stakeholders in different countries. Spending four months in Costa Rica provided me with a glimpse of what my future in the ecological sciences could look like.”
Priscilla Chambers
Senior psychology major from Naples
Chambers traveled to Seoul, South Korea, last summer for a six-week program at Korea University. She recently became one of four FGCU semi-finalists for the Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship Award; recipients will be notified later this spring.
“I took rigorous coursework in the field of abnormal psychology and the science of language and how it relates to artificial intelligence. This one-of-a-kind experience allowed me to experience a different culture firsthand and build long-lasting relationships with students and professors.
“Personally, stepping out of my comfort zone by studying abroad for the summer allowed me to build more confidence in myself. Professionally, the relationships I built while abroad have helped me in applying to Fulbright to return to Korea as a teaching assistant.
“My study abroad experience aligned with my career goals by allowing me to gain a different cultural perspective on the field of psychology. My long-term goal is to become a clinical psychologist, where cultural context in decision-making is crucial. My experience abroad allowed me to build on my own development as a psychology major.”
Lizbeth Mendez
Senior psychology and digital media design major from Naples
In addition to the Gilman, Mendez received The Education Abroad Network’s World Strides Semester Partnership Scholarship, the Perez Family Study Abroad Scholarship and a Global Learning Grant. Last spring, she studied for six months at Korea University in Seoul.
“I took courses in psychology, neuroscience and Korean. I also got to explore Korean culture in my daily life there and through cultural events with the program I went with.
“Before going abroad, I hoped to (and I was able to) expand my scope of the world by learning more about a new culture and experiencing life outside of what I was used to in Southwest Florida. I also wanted to grow both personally and professionally by taking on the challenge of adapting to a new place far from home.
“I hope to become an occupational therapist, so I also wanted to expand my knowledge of psychology from a new perspective and increase my awareness of interacting with people from different backgrounds in order to be more well-rounded when treating patients in the future.”
Elizabeth Patterson
Senior business management major from Marco Island
Patterson studied abroad last summer at the University of Applied Sciences in Schmalkalden, Germany.
“I participated in an academic program focused on international business, global markets and cultural immersion. The experience allowed me to learn firsthand about European business practices while engaging directly with a new culture.
“Personally, the experience helped me grow in independence, adaptability and cultural awareness. Professionally, it strengthened my global mindset and communication skills, and gave me real-world exposure to how business operates across borders, which are skills that are essential in international business.
“This experience aligns closely with my long-term goal of pursuing a career in global human resources and international business. Studying abroad in Germany gave me firsthand insight into working across cultures and understanding international workforces, which I see as foundational to my future career.”
