About 800 undergraduates earned the award nationwide.
Three Texas Tech University undergraduate students were awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to Study Abroad for the spring 2016 semester.
Those receiving the scholarship at Texas Tech are: Raul Perez Jr., Maria Muñoz and Bianca Barreto.
About 800 undergraduate students from 355 U.S. colleges and universities were selected to receive the scholarship, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
“The Office of International Affairs congratulates the three Texas Tech students who were awarded the Benjamin Gilman Scholarship to study abroad in Spring 2016,” Elizabeth McDaniel, senior director of international education and enrollment management, said. “These students competed with students from more than 300 U.S. universities and were among 800 named to receive this prestigious award. It's a great honor for our students to be a part of this semester's awardees. We'd like to encourage all students who are receiving a Pell Grant to apply for the Gilman Scholarship to help them study abroad.”
Perez, a sophomore pre-engineering major, will study a variety of courses in Beppu, Japan, including Japanese.
“Receiving this award not only gave me reassurance that money is no longer an issue while studying abroad, but also the confidence to apply myself even more to get the most out of my experience while I am abroad in Japan,” Perez said.
Muñoz, a junior communications studies major and Portuguese minor, will study in Florianopolis, Brazil.
“Being a Gilman scholar recipient represents an opportunity to begin my international education and invest in my future, gaining invaluable skills and information that will help me be a more competitive candidate in the work field,” Munoz said. “This award also brings me peace of mind knowing I will not have to worry about repaying any loans I would have otherwise had to acquire to fund my experience. Finally, this award proves to me that if you work hard enough for something that you're really passionate about, you will accomplish it.”
Barreto, a senior psychology major, will study Spanish at the Texas Tech Center in Sevilla, Spain.
“Although some of my veteran benefits will go toward my study abroad experience, it will not cover the majority of the fees associated with traveling abroad,” Barreto said. “I am extremely grateful for the Gilman scholarship. It will allow me to enjoy my study abroad experience without worrying about finances. In addition, it allows me to see other parts of the world I have yet to experience, which is important to me as a future psychiatrist. I want to be aware of different cultures, because a culture's values and customs directly affect how individuals express their emotions and thoughts.”
Maria Tellez-Giron and Andree Ordaz were named alternates.
Gilman scholars receive up to $5,000 toward their study abroad or internship program costs. Students receiving the Federal Pell Grant from two- and four-year institutions who already are planning to study or intern abroad for credit are eligible to apply. The award is named after Congressman Benjamin Gilman, who served in the House of Representatives for 30 years and was the chairman of the House Foreign Relations Committee. Gilman retired in 2002.
To see the full list of students receiving the award or for more information on the award, visit Gilman's website.