Gilman scholarship helps students finance international study

The study abroad experience has become a rite of passage for college juniors across the country. But due to high travel costs, poor exchange rates and typical tourist expenses, many students fear they simply can't afford the experience.

Instead of passing up an international education, however, resourceful students like College senior Ebony Thorne and 2008 Penn alumna Jennifer Leone have overcome financial burdens by turning to outside aid.

Thorne received the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to spend last semester in Botswana, Africa, while Leone used it to travel to France in Fall 2006.

Awarded by the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the Gilman Scholarship awards up to $5,000 to students hoping to study abroad. It is reserved for students with Pell grants, a form of federal financial aid typically granted to the lowest income quartile.

While the scholarship involves an extensive application and follow-up work - recipients must complete a project on their target culture after returning home - students say the initial investment is well worth it.

In efforts to ensure students get the chance to explore other cultures, Penn Abroad has launched a new initiative to better inform the student body of scholarship and study abroad opportunities.

The Gilman scholarship, which has a 15-percent selection rate, is given to fewer than 200 eligible students nationally each semester. It has been awarded to just seven Penn students since it was created in 2006. College senior and student assistant in the Penn Abroad office Ling Tran said the low numbers might be the result of lack of publicity.

Tran described the initial difficulties and potential rewards of international study.

"Some students are hesitant to go abroad since it may sidetrack them from their career plans or other pursuits," Tran said. "But with extra support, it can be an invaluable cultural learning experience, one that you can truly only enjoy as an undergraduate or while you are still young."

Thorne is a prime example of studying abroad without skipping a beat. The Health and Societies major with a concentration in Public Health not only took five courses for academic credit, but also volunteered in organizing the second International HIV Conference, worked at a Holy Cross hospice and kitchen and traveled to South Africa, Zimbabwe and Cape Point.

She credits the experience to her natural risk-taking nature. "Once you're abroad, take risks, take advantage of everything and be open to new lifestyles," she said. "Life is more exciting that way."

Thorne also managed to find time to go shark diving off the coast of South Africa.

"Never assume that you might not receive aid," she said. "You never know whether you'll get it or not, but it ultimately pays off in the end."

Leone said she appreciated that the scholarship eased her personal expenses as well as the financial burden shouldered by the University.

With the extra dimension of the post-trip final project and a personal biomedical internship at the Pasteur Institute, the scholarship program kept her focused during her studies, Leone said.

"It was very clearly communicated to me that I was being given this money to represent Americans in a positive manner while abroad," she said.

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