By Alyssa Asick, Staff Writer
Susquehanna junior Gabriela Draganova was recently awarded a prestigious scholarship, allowing her to take full advantage of her study abroad experience while in Spain this semester.
While in Spain, Draganova is aiming to further her education in business and marketing, according to the Susquehanna website.
Draganova received the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship which targets undergraduate students who might not be able to study abroad because of financial restraints, according to the Gilman website.
The program grants the winners the money to be able to study languages and gain a better understanding of other cultures.
In order to receive the scholarship, applicants needed to show academic preparedness, diversity of background and experience, and a clear connection between the area they want to study in and the career they are going into.
Draganova said that the scholarship has opened up many academic opportunities for her while she is abroad.
“I’ve travelled to Italy so far to not only visit and explore, but see the core roots of luxury brands,” Draganova said. “Being that Luxury Brand Marketing and Management is my major, getting the chance to tour a few headquarters at the fashion capital of the world was a huge advancement in my education that I was able to do because of the Gilman Scholarship.”
Another part of the program requires the students to propose a project that they will work on during their time abroad. In the project they will have to connect their experiences to their campus and home community and encourage others to study abroad.
The program is funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. The awards for this scholarship can range from $100 to $5,000. Students who decide to learn a critical need language are awarded an additional $3,000.
The recipients of this scholarship are very carefully selected, and the money received must be used toward eligible study abroad trip costs.
This program has specifically been successful in supporting students who have been historically underrepresented in studying abroad trips, according to the Gilman website.
Draganova noted that Faculty Coordinator for Fellowship Advising Karen Mura reached out to her about the scholarship and recommended that she apply because she is a first-generation college student.
To be eligible for this scholarship the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, an undergraduate student in good standing at an accredited institution and in the process of applying to a three-week-or-longer study abroad program in an area with an overall Travel Advisory Level of 1 or 2, as stated on the program’s website.
The Gilman Scholarship is aimed at the more globally informed students, because they want “a body of U.S. citizens that are more aware and informed,” Mura said.
In reference to this specific scholarship, Mura recommended that applicants tell a unique story, pinpointing what makes them a distinct candidate.
The Susquehanna website states that only about 25 percent of semester program applicants receive an award, and there is a program that is dedicated to helping these potential scholarship applicants.
Students seeking help with scholarships or fellowships can visit the Career Development Center or make appointments with campus advisors, like Mura. These resources provide lists of potential scholarships as well as tips for applying to them.
The final piece of advice Mura left for students is to “start looking for scholarships earlier than you think you should.”
She recommended to start looking six to eight months in advance, so students do not miss deadlines for the perfect scholarship.