LOCK HAVEN – Lindsay Hein, a junior majoring in international studies at Lock Haven University, is one of more than 800 American undergraduate students from 330 colleges and universities across the U.S. selected to receive the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship.
The scholarship is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Hein will study abroad at LHU’s partner institution, The Institute for Leadership and Communication, in Rabat, Morocco during the 2014-15 academic year.
Gilman Scholars receive up to $5,000 to apply toward their study abroad program costs. The program aims to diversify the students who study abroad and the countries and regions where they go.
Students receiving a federal Pell Grant from two- and four-year institutions who will be studying abroad or participating in an international internship for academic credit are eligible to apply.
Scholarship recipients have the opportunity to gain a better understanding of other cultures, countries, languages and economies — making them better prepared to assume leadership roles within government and the private sector.
Gilman, who retired in 2002 after serving in the House of Representatives for 30 years and chairing the House Foreign Relations Committee, commented, “Study abroad is a special experience for every student who participates.
“Living and learning in a vastly different environment of another nation not only exposes our students to alternate views, but also adds an enriching social and cultural experience.
“It also provides our students with the opportunity to return home with a deeper understanding of their place in the world, encouraging them to be a contributor, rather than a spectator in the international community.”
The program is administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE). The full list of students who have been selected to receive Gilman Scholarships, including students’ home state, university and country of study, is available online at www.iie.org/gilman.
According to Allan Goodman, president and chief executive officer of IIE, “International education is one of the best tools for developing mutual understanding and building connections between people from different countries.
“It is critical to the success of American diplomacy and business, and the lasting ties that Americans make during their international studies are important to our country in times of conflict as well as times of peace.”
