A file 15 UMaine college students had been supplied Gilman scholarships to review overseas
A complete of 15 college students from the University of Maine got the chance to review overseas in Germany, Portugal, South Korea, Spain, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Sweden after having been awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship and the Gilman- MCain Scholarship throughout the 2024-25 tutorial yr.
The Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship Program encourages college students from all tutorial backgrounds to take part in examine overseas packages to achieve skilled expertise and expertise new cultures. Since the inception of this system in 2001, over 44,000 scholarships between $3,000 and $5,000 have been awarded to U.S. college students to take part in examine overseas packages world wide, in line with the program website.
Overall, 1,600 college students from throughout the U.S. have been awarded a Gilman scholarship within the fall 2024 software cycle. An extra group has been awarded the Gilman-McCain scholarship in January and three,500 U.S. college students had been awarded within the Spring 2025 software cycle.
Samuel Lausier, a senior scholar within the Maine Business School from Madawaska, Maine, is without doubt one of the UMaine recipients from the autumn 2024 software cycle. He plans to review on the University of Mannheim in Germany within the fall by the trade program UMaine has supplied for over 12 years.
“I’ve always wanted to travel, and studying abroad in Germany is a perfect way to do so. I’m excited to be surrounded by a different culture and experience life from a perspective I’ve never had before growing up in Maine,” mentioned Lausier, who’s double majoring in accounting and finance. “I’m also extremely excited at the prospect of traveling outside of the country during my time abroad. There are so many things to see throughout Europe, and I intend to spend all of my free time exploring as much of it as I can!”
Drew Parent, a senior double majoring in social work and girls’s, gender, and sexuality research from Acton, Maine is one other recipient from fall 2024 software cycle. They used the scholarship to review overseas in Portugal throughout the May time period.
“I would not have been able to experience this opportunity without the funding from the scholarship, so anything that I gained from this experience is directly related to the Gilman Scholarship. Whether that is the personal growth gained from this experience, or the professional development from immersing myself in the policies there, literally every aspect of this opportunity I am crediting to the Gilman Scholarship,” mentioned Parent. “It was truly the experience of a lifetime. I am extremely grateful to have had the opportunity and I strongly encourage anyone who is interested in studying abroad to consider applying for a Gilman Scholarship.”
Lausier, Parent and others had been made conscious of this scholarship alternative by electronic mail newsletters despatched out by the Office of Major Scholarships or by the Office of Study Abroad. These fffices additionally offered data periods and a workshop to college students concerned with making use of for this scholarship alternative to supply software assist.
The Office of International Programs, the Division of Lifelong Learning in addition to different items had been additionally pivotal in supporting these college students’ purposes.
“My biggest takeaway from the workshop was learning more about what the panel is looking for from their applicants in the various essays they require you to write. This helped me better formulate the direction of my essays and definitely played a big role in my being awarded the scholarship,” Lausier added.
The subsequent software cycle for the Gilman Scholarship is open and the deadline is Oct. 3 for examine overseas packages beginning in 2026. UMaine college students who’re concerned with making use of can contact Nives Dal Bo-Wheeler, director of the Office of Major Scholarships, at nives.dalbowheeler@maine.edu.
Story by former information and social media intern Luke ONeil.
Contact: Marcus Wolf, 207.581.3721; marcus.wolf@maine.edu