Empowering Future Leaders: Bard College Students Awarded Gilman Scholarships for International Study

Gilman Scholarships Propel Bard Students Into International Academic and Professional Pursuits

Five Bard College students have received the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships, valued at up to $5,000 (or $8,000 with the Gilman Critical Need Language Award), to support study abroad or internship costs. This group of scholars will study or intern in over 90 countries, representing more than 500 U.S. colleges and universities. In the fall 2024 cycle, the U.S. Department of State awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to approximately 1,600 American undergraduates from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. All recipients are Pell Grant recipients with high financial need, and 65% come from rural areas or small towns, while half are first-generation college students.

Since its inception in 2001, the Gilman Scholarship has supported over 44,000 scholars who have studied or interned in more than 170 countries. Funded by the U.S. Congress and managed by the Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs with assistance from the Institute of International Education, the program continues to provide opportunities for undergraduates with high financial need.

The following Bard College students were among the latest to receive this prestigious award:

1. Ezra Calderon, a double major in Mathematics and Italian Studies from Harlem, New York, received the Gilman Scholarship to study at the University of Trento in Italy for the spring semester of 2025. She is excited about the opportunity to enhance her language skills and support his Senior Project research in Italian Studies.

2. Adelaide Driver, a Studio Art major from Taos, New Mexico, received a $4,000 Gilman Scholarship to study at Kyoto Seika University in Japan for the spring semester of 2025. She expressed gratitude for the opportunity to study illustration abroad, overcoming previous financial barriers, and highlighted her role as a peer counsellor at Bard.

3. Dashely Julia, a Bard College junior double majoring in Architecture and Art History with a focus on Latin American and Iberian Studies, was awarded a $3,000 Gilman Scholarship to study at Bard College Berlin in Germany for the spring semester of 2025. Julia expressed that the scholarship would allow her to engage with diverse cultures and deepen her understanding of art history and architecture, fulfilling a lifelong dream. She is a Posse Puerto Rico Scholar and a lead peer mentor for the Office of Equity and Inclusion, eager to explore the impact of cultural and historical contexts on artistic practices.

4. Nyla Lawrence, a Computer Science major from Atlanta, Georgia, received a $5,000 Gilman Scholarship to study at National Sun Yat-sen University in Taiwan for the spring semester of 2025. Lawrence, who will study Mandarin as her third language, values the opportunity to gain broader educational and life experiences. She is a captain of the Bard women’s volleyball team and the Katherine Lynne Mester Memorial Scholar in Humanities for 2024–2025. Inspired by her grandmother’s advice, “If you think education is expensive, try ignorance,” Lawrence is excited for the chance to expand her global knowledge.

5. Brenda Lopez, a Psychology major from Bronx, New York, received a $3,000 Gilman Scholarship to study at Kyung Hee University in Seoul for the spring semester of 2025. Lopez expressed her gratitude for the scholarship and its support for her time in Korea. She is involved in the Trustee Leader Scholar Project Nicaragua Education Initiative and leads the K-DIARY club at Bard College.

The achievements of these five Bard College students highlight the ongoing impact and significance of the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship in expanding educational opportunities and fostering global connections.

Editor's Note:

The achievements of these five Bard College students highlight the continued importance of the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship in providing diverse opportunities for deserving individuals to study and intern abroad. Through substantial financial support for students with high financial need, the Gilman Scholarship fosters cultural exchange and mutual understanding, enabling students to gain valuable academic and professional experiences globally. 

Skoobuzz congratulates the achievers and encourages other students to apply for the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to give wings to their dreams.