The opportunities at a global education are large at SUNY. More than 1,000 programs across all seven continents and more than 60 countries give students a chance to see the world and learn from it. As SUNY seeks to extend the benefits of global learning to all students, many SUNY students with demonstrated financial need have a tremendous opportunity to study abroad.
The U.S. Department of State has selected 23 students from 12 SUNY institutions to receive the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to study or intern abroad during the Spring 2018 term. In the most recent round of awards, students from New Paltz led the way for SUNY with seven total awards. Approximately one in four New York State Gilman recipients is a SUNY student. A complete list of the SUNY recipients for 2018, including home campus and host country destination, is available below.
The late Congressman Gilman, for whom the scholarship is named, represented New York’s 26th congressional district in the House of Representatives for 30 years and chaired the House Foreign Relations Committee. When honored with the Secretary of State’s Distinguished Service Medal in 2002, he commented, “Living and learning in a vastly different environment of another nation not only exposes our students to alternate views, but adds an enriching social and cultural experience. It also provides our students with the opportunity to return home with a deeper understanding of their place in the world, encouraging them to be a contributor, rather than a spectator in the international community.”
The campus of SUNY Orange County Community College, located in Middletown, NY – Gilman’s hometown – is host to the Gilman Center for International Education. The Center is home to the college’s growing Global Studies programs and serves as a fitting tribute to the late Congressman.
In her 2018 State of the University System address, Chancellor Kristina M. Johnson noted the large number of education abroad opportunities available to SUNY students and challenged the SUNY community to enroll greater numbers of students in these valuable, enlightening, international experiences. SUNY’s vision of Global Learning for All, in fulfillment to its commitment to diversity and inclusion, is aligned with the goals and outcomes of the Gilman Scholarship as it broadens the student population that studies and interns abroad by supporting those who might not otherwise participate due to financial constraints. There is also an emphasis on placing students in countries and regions where fewer Americans traditionally study.
Gilman Scholars receive up to $5,000 toward their study or internship abroad program costs with additional funding available for the study of a critical language overseas. Since the inception of the scholarship in 2001, over 89,000 applications have been received and over 25,000 scholarships have been awarded, enabling outstanding American students of diverse backgrounds the chance at meaningful educational experiences abroad.
The online system for Gilman scholarship applications is now open for students participating in credit-bearing study abroad and international internship programs during the summer 2018, fall 2018 and academic year 2018-2019 terms. All applications are due Tuesday, March 6, 2018 by 11:59pm (Central Time).
Spring 2018 Awardees
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program
University at Albany
- Christine Gomez- Peru
Alfred State
- Nassr Taher – Italy
Binghamton University
- Amber Chowdhury – Spain
- Atsuko Shimizu – Germany
University at Buffalo
- Kellen Corrallo – France
- Shatoni Ross – United Kingdom
SUNY Cortland
- Raheemah Madany – Germany
Fashion Institute of Technology
- Vanessa Watson – Hong Kong
Fredonia
- Francheilly Paulino – India
New Paltz
- Chynna Estrella – Japan
- Jenna Xian – South Korea
- Johanna Garcia – Spain
- Kadeen Douglas – Hong Kong
- Shanice Mateo – United Kingdom
- Shedika Williams – South Africa
- Tatiana Gonzales – United Kingdom
Old Westbury
- Tyreek Dixon – South Korea
Potsdam
- Mishel Ramirez – Australia
Stony Brook University
- Samir Ansari – Italy
Tompkins Cortland Community College
- Arnesia Glisson – Cambodia
- Jacalyn Nino – Nicaragua
- Jenelle Carr – Nicaragua
Congratulations to all the students lucky enough to be a part of this opportunity.
The Gilman Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and is administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE).
