Eight students from Cañada College, College of San Mateo, and Skyline College were awarded a total of $28,500 from the U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, a grant program that enables students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad. The program is committed to reshaping study abroad to make it more accessible and inclusive for students who, due to financial constraints, might not otherwise participate. Its goal is to increase opportunities to learn abroad while building mutual intercultural understanding between students and their host communities.
For the last application cycle (deadline October 2020), nine SMCCCD students applied, and eight students were awarded the scholarship—an award rate of 89%. The list of all students awarded the Gilman Scholarship from colleges and universities across the country is posted on the Gilman Scholarship website.
The eight SMCCCD students were among 900 students throughout the country to receive this scholarship. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students are now able to use their scholarships funds for virtual study abroad and virtual international internships.
SMCCCD Study Abroad is the district-wide study abroad program housed in the Global Learning Programs and Services Division at Skyline College. For more information about studying or interning abroad, faculty teach abroad opportunities, community travel for lifelong learners, visiting international faculty presenters and student scholarship opportunities, please contact Zaid Ghori at ghoriz@smccd.edu or (650) 738-7088 or Stephanie Wells at wellss@smccd.edu. You can also learn more by visiting the SMCCD Study Abroad Facebook page or Instagram page @smcccd_study_abroad.
Article by Stephanie Wells and Kimiko Petsche
