December 14, 2020

We are pleased to announce that two Drexel students have received Gilman Scholarships to support study or co-op abroad in 2021, and two have been named alternates. The prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, supports American undergraduate students pursuing study abroad and international internships. Congratulations to all of Drexel's honorees!

Elizabeth Le (BS Environmental Engineering '24, Honors)
Gilman Scholar to South Korea for spring study abroad
 Elizabeth Le is pursuing a bachelor's degree in environmental engineering with hopes to gain experience in developing green infrastructure and technology in urban settings globally. She is particularly interested in large scale urban planning projects that could maximize energy and water usage across all facilities. However, Elizabeth is also interested in gaining experience in the many diverse areas under sustainable engineering. She has jump-started this journey by studying the Evapotranspiration rate of Poplar trees in Green Stormwater Infrastructure during the 2020 STAR Scholars research program under the mentorship of Franco Montalto. Elizabeth also started to develop and build on professional career goals through the help of the 2020-2021 Aspire Scholars program. She hopes to gain valuable academic experience and obtain green know-how through studying abroad at a global engineering institute such as Hanyang University. Elizabeth also hopes to return with increased Korean language fluency and cultural awareness.

Hannah Kim (BS Custom-Designed Major, Medical Humanities '24, Honors)
Gilman Scholar to South Korea for fall study abroad
Hannah is a second-year in the Custom-Designed major program in the Pennoni Honors College. She is passionate about personalizing the diversifying medical sector to be more accommodating and compassionate. With her premedical studies being comprised of social sciences and humanities, Hannah hopes to have an immersive experience in other cultures and have her perspectives widened through conversations with individuals from various tracks of life. She is excited to participate in a study abroad at Seoul National University in South Korea, where she will not only be exposed to the reality of her academic goals, but learn more about the culture in which both her parents were raised.

Angela Myronovych (BSBA Finance '22, Honors)
Gilman Scholarship alternate to the UK for summer study abroad
Angela wants to address unmet medical needs in neuroscience such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease. She aspires to work in the healthcare industry to encourage breakthroughs in neuroscience research. She is looking to pursue a career involved in the business development of healthcare innovations through working at a venture capital firm, a pharmaceutical company, or a biotech startup. Angela believes that London is a hub in pharmaceutical development, growing biotech startups, biotech venture capital, and top academic research college programs. As a global center of finance and travel, London is the perfect location to develop medical innovations for its access to financial investment, high quality research centers, universities, health care systems, and highly trained professionals. Traveling to London, living in the residential halls of South Kensington, going to breathtaking landmarks like the Big Ben, and relaxing in Hyde Park would make her dreams come true.

Karen Lee (BSBA Marketing and Organizational Management '23)
Gilman Scholarship alternate to South Korea for spring study abroad
Karen plans to participate in a study abroad program at Seoul National University in South Korea in the spring of 2021. She is studying marketing and organizational management with the goal of working for marketing teams of top Korean cosmetic brands in the future.  

The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program provides U.S. undergraduate students with financial support to pursue academic studies or credit-bearing internships abroad. The program supports many students who have been historically underrepresented in education abroad, including but not limited to first-generation college students, students in STEM fields, ethnic minority students, students with disabilities, and students coming from U.S. states with less study abroad participation.

Learn more about the Gilman Scholarship and how to apply at Drexel.

More than 900 U.S. students from the October 2020 application deadline have been selected to receive Gilman scholarship awards. The recipients of this prestigious scholarship are American undergraduate students representing 307 colleges and universities across the United States who will study or intern in 87 countries through the end of 2021. Included in this group are recipients of the John McCain International Scholarship for the Children of Military Families (Gilman-McCain Scholarship). Also included are Gilman Scholars supported by the governments of France, New Zealand and Wales, and the Luso-American Development Foundation (FLAD) in Portugal, which have partnered with the Gilman Program to provide funding for additional students to study in their respective countries. The complete list of students who have been selected to receive Gilman Scholarships this cycle, including students’ home state, university and host country, is available on the website: gilmanscholarship.org.

Gilman Scholars receive up to $5,000,or up to $8,000 if also a recipient of the Gilman Critical Need Language Award, to apply toward their study abroad or internship program costs. Since the program’s establishment in 2001, over 1,300 U.S. institutions have sent over 33,000 Gilman Scholars of diverse backgrounds to 151 countries around the globe. The program has successfully broadened U.S. participation in study abroad, while emphasizing countries and regions where fewer Americans traditionally study.

The Gilman Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and is supported in its implementation by the Institute of International Education (IIE).

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The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ (ECA) mission is to build relations between the people of the United States and the people of other countries through academic, cultural, sports, professional and private exchanges, as well as public-private partnerships and mentoring programs. These exchange programs improve foreign relations and strengthen the national security of the United States. ECA programs, funding, and other activities encourage the involvement of American and international participants from traditionally underrepresented groups, including women, racial and ethnic minorities, and people with disabilities.  Artists, educators, athletes, students, youth and rising leaders in the United States and more than 160 countries around the globe participate in academic, cultural, sports, and professional exchanges.  For more information about ECA programs, initiatives, and achievements, visit eca.state.gov.

The Institute of International Education works with policymakers, educators and employers across the globe to prepare students and professionals for the global workforce and equip them to solve the increasingly complex challenges facing our interconnected world. An independent, not-for-profit organization founded in 1919, IIE has a network of 18 offices and affiliates worldwide, and over 1,300 member institutions.