December 12, 2008
Bowling
Green, Ky. - Three Western Kentucky University students have received prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships for the spring 2009 semester.
Recipients of the study abroad scholarships are:
*Abbie Hutchison, a senior economics major from Hardinsburg, who received a $3,500 award to participate in participate in a project in Ecuador.
*Jessica Jenkins, a sophomore biology major from Woodburn, who received a $4,000 award for the Buenos Aires, Argentina, Study Abroad Semester.
*Joshua Smith, a senior political science and religious studies major from Bowling Green, who received a $4,500 award to study Arabic as a Foreign Language at Yarmouk University in Jordan.
The Gilman Scholarship (http://www.iie.org/gilman) is nationally competitive award sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the Institute of International Education (IIE).
During the spring application cycle, the Gilman Scholarship Program received 1,465 applications for 600 awards. In the past three years, nine WKU students have won Gilman awards.
“The Gilman is one of the most accessible scholarships for study abroad, places no restrictions on major or class standing and very little restrictions on where a student can go,” said Amy Eckhardt, director of WKU’s Office of Scholar Development. “Study abroad can be transformative and the Gilman can make it possible for our students. I hope that students will visit the Office of Scholar Development and the Study Abroad office, so we can help them see the world.”
The application deadline for the students wishing to study abroad in fall 2009 will be in April.
Erin Avery, a 2008 WKU graduate, studied in Japan with a Gilman scholarship. “My advice to everyone receiving the Pell Grant is to take advantage of the opportunities to study abroad while you are in college,” Avery said.
“Start planning for it as early as you can and definitely apply for the Gilman Scholarship as it will allow to you to take advantage of opportunities that you might have thought you would never be able to afford. It could give you one of the most memorable experiences of your college career.”
More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu and at http://wkunews.wordpress.com/. If you’d like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.
For information, contact Amy Eckhardt at (270) 745-2081.
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