Ten students from Cañada College, College of San Mateo, and Skyline College were awarded a total of $32,000 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 live and learn abroad while building mutual intercultural understanding between students and their host communities.
For the last application cycle (deadline March 2020), 20 SMCCCD students applied, and 10 students were awarded the scholarship—an award rate of 50%. The list of all colleges and universities awarded the Gilman Scholarship is listed on the Gilman Scholarship website.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these scholarships were delayed, the recipients notified several months later than usual. Students who applied last March had been planning to participate in study abroad or global internship programs during the Summer 2020 or Fall 2020 sessions. However, in light of the pandemic and the suspension of most study abroad programs across the country, the Gilman Scholarship Program has allowed students to defer their scholarship award to a future study abroad or global internship program, or to use their award for a virtual global program.
The next round of the Gilman Scholarship application is now open! The deadline is Tuesday, October 6, 2020. Students can work with the SMCCCD Study Abroad staff for assistance in applying for the Gilman Scholarship as well as to learn about future study abroad and virtual global learning experiences. Email studyabroad@smccd.edu or visit smccd.edu/studyabroad to connect with the Study Abroad team.
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
