Two Berry students have been awarded the Gilman International Scholarship to study abroad.
Sophomore Khanaja Scott, of West Point, Georgia, and recent graduate Nathania Cortes, of Calhoun, Georgia, received the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. Scott, a creative writing major and Teaching English as a Foreign Language minor, will compare the differences between American and British English literature in Glasgow, Scotland.
Cortes, an English and secondary education 2022 graduate, will work on completing her Teaching English as a Foreign Language certification at the Alliance Academy International in Quito, Ecuador.
The Gilman International Scholarship was established in 2001, named after late congressman Benjamin A. Gilman, who believed in the diverse and cultural knowledge that is gained from learning in a foreign country. This program supports study abroad and international internship opportunities in over 150 countries, for students that qualify for the federal Pell Grant. The award amount provides up to $5,000 for living expenses and institution fees.
This is the first time a Berry student has qualified for the Critical Need Language Award, which provides an additional $3,000 for students focusing their studies abroad on languages that are “critical need” (quintessential to maintaining U.S. national security), thus making the total of the scholarship amount, upwards of $8,000.
Cortes is abroad this summer, while Scott will start her junior year overseas this fall. With the help of advisors such as International Experiences Director Elizabeth Davis and Teacher Education Associate Professor Eliana Hirano, these students were able to craft an application that further opened the door to a life-changing opportunity.
“This has made traveling abroad affordable, and I hope to take advantage of the opportunity to connect with other recipients of the scholarship upon my return,” Cortes said.
For more information about study abroad scholarships, visit academics/international-experiences/funding
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Student Assistant Copywriter and Editor Amani Pyron
