A record number of University of Rochester students have been awarded Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships for spring 2011. Scholarship recipients are chosen through a competitive process and use the award to offset the cost of study abroad.
Twelve undergraduates were selected from a national pool; more than 50 percent of the students who applied from the University received scholarships, in comparison to the national average of 30 percent. The recipients are:
Jeffrey Bordeaux (Rochester, N.Y.), a junior, will study in Shanghai, China. Grace Cannon (Akron, N.Y.), a sophomore, will study in Rabat, Morocco. Samantha Echaves (Redding, Calif.), a sophomore, will study in Madrid, Spain. Elaine Hernandez (Port Saint Lucie, Fla.), a junior, will study in London, England. Andrea Morrell (Marilla, N.Y.), a junior, will study in Madrid, Spain. Oladoyin Oladeru (Bronx, N.Y.), a sophomore, will study in Cape Town, South Africa. William Pellett (Williamson, N.Y.), a junior, will study in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Natalie Peterman (Palos Verdes, Calif.), a junior, will study in Beijing, China. Cecilia Scribner (Waterbury Center, Vt.), a junior, will study in Cairo, Egypt. Kenisha Smith (Inglewood, Calif.), a junior, will study in Barcelona, Spain. Emilia Sola Gracia (Caguas, Puerto Rico), a junior, will study in Melbourne, Australia. Kelly Walsh (Buffalo, N.Y.), a junior, will study in London, England.
"Our students continue to be competitive when applying for scholarships such as the Gilman," said Jacqueline Levine, director of Rochester's Center for Study Abroad and Interdepartmental Programs. "We are delighted that they have been recognized for their leadership and academic success and are thrilled that these scholarships will help them participate in study abroad programs in a variety of countries."
Since the program's inception in 2002, 66 University students have won Gilman awards. The scholarship, which provides financial assistance to students who are enrolled in study abroad programs worldwide, is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and the Institute of International Education, which also administers the prestigious Fulbright fellowships. The program gives undergraduates awards of up to $5,000 each.