2011 Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship Awarded for Summer Study Abroad

Three University of Arkansas students — Gabrielle Compton, Spencer Foust and Brittany Williams — have been selected to receive 2011 Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship Awards for their summer study abroad programs. With the honor, these students will receive $11,500 to study abroad in the upcoming summer term.

Gabrielle Compton and Spencer Foust, freshman Engineering students, will be participating in the Global India Program, sponsored by the Department of Engineering, during the second summer session.

Brittany Williams, a junior majoring in International Relations in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, will study Arabic in Amman, Jordan, this summer.

The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program offers grants for U.S. citizen undergraduate students of limited financial means to pursue academic studies abroad. Over 2,300 scholarships of up to $5,000 will be awarded this academic year for U.S. citizen undergraduates to study abroad. Award amounts will vary depending on the length of study and student need with the average award being approximately $4,000.

International experience is critically important in the educational and career development of American students, but it can also require a substantial financial investment. The Gilman Scholarship Program broadens the student population that studies abroad by supporting undergraduates who might not otherwise participate due to financial constraints. The program aims to encourage students to choose non-traditional study abroad destinations, especially those outside of Western Europe, Australia and New Zealand. The Gilman Scholarship Program aims to support students who have been traditionally under-represented in study abroad, including but not limited to, students with high financial need, community college students, students in under-represented fields such as the sciences and engineering, students with diverse ethnic backgrounds, and students with disabilities. The program seeks to assist students from a diverse range of public and private institutions from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

Award recipients are chosen by a competitive selection process and must use the award to defray eligible study abroad costs. These costs include program tuition, room and board, books, local transportation, insurance and international airfare.

This congressionally funded program is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State and is administered by the Institute of International Education through its Southern Regional Center in Houston, Texas.

For more information, go to the Institute of International Exchange website or visit the Office of Study Abroad website.