2014 Gilman Alumni Ambassadors
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Gilman Alumni Ambassador Program The Gilman Alumni Ambassador Program is a diverse group of Gilman Scholarship recipients who have studied abroad in various countries around the world. They are official ambassadors of the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, providing presentations and promotional outreach to university and college campuses around the nation to students and advisors interested in learning more about the Gilman Scholarship Program. The Gilman Alumni Ambassadors have been trained by the Gilman Scholarship Program. If you would like to request a Gilman Alumni Ambassador to present at your campus or if you are interested in becoming a Gilman Alumni Ambassador, please contact Gilman Scholars by email at [email protected] if you have any questions. 2014 Gilman Alumni Ambassadors: Recipients Page Gabriela Aguilera, University of New Hampshire, 2014, Kyrgyzstan 2 Kelsey Ball, Ohio University, 2014, Morocco 3 Elizabeth Barrera, University of Texas at Austin, 2014, India 4 Hugh Blackburn, Towson University, 2013, Japan 5 Natalie Cawker, University of Portland, 2013, Costa Rica 6 Tyler Clark, Valparaiso University, 2014, Spain 7 Charles Donkor, Bridgewater College, 2013, Ghana 8 Caitlyn Ebert, Daemen College, 2013, Poland 9 Megan Grable, University of Missouri, Columbia, 2012, China 10 Hugo Hernandez, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 2014, Japan 11 Gregory Jones, University of Pittsburgh, 2012, Tanzania 12 Michael Karakash, University of California, Irvine, 2012, Chile 13 Amanda Lawnicki, Beloit College, 2012, Russia 14 Aaron Lemmon, Boston College, 2007, Australia 15 Lea-Jeanne Martin, The Evergreen State College, 2014, United Kingdom 16 Donald Meeks, Scottsdale Community College, 2014, Czech Republic 17 Erika Morton, University of Memphis, 2014, China 18 Ben Nia, University of Texas at Austin, 2013, Australia 19 Rosa Reyes, University of New Mexico, 2012, France 20 Heather Stewart, University of Louisville, 2013, Costa Rica 21 JoVona Taylor, University of Missouri, 2013, United Kingdom 22 Raul Velarde, University of Miami, 2012, Spain 23 Quenton White, Wayne State University, 2013, United Kingdom 24 Calvin Xu, New York Institution of Technology, 2008, Germany 25 1 Gabby Aguilera, Kyrgyzstan, 2014 University of New Hampshire New Hampshire media in post-conflict The most significant attribute I rehabilitation. I used what I gained from my study and intern learned in my research to help abroad experience was a sense of develop media strategies that confidence in myself and an ability would promote diversity and to adapt to new and unexpected peace in Kyrgyzstan and lessen the situations. There is a feeling of ethnic tensions that were immense freedom that comes remnants of the 2010 conflict from knowing that you are between the Uzbeks and the independent and capable enough Kyrgyz. Some of these strategies to live and work in a country and a included promoting local media culture that is radically different outlets that spread messages of from your own. It makes you feel D uring the 2014 summer peace and assisting with a like the whole world is open to term, I spent two months studying workshop for journalists which you. I know that I am not done and interning abroad in Bishkek, taught the importance of writing traveling to other countries and Kyrgyzstan. I studied History of pieces that were unbiased and experiencing other cultures. Central Asia and Russian Language maintained a high level of at the American University of journalistic integrity. I am very fortunate that the Central Asia and interned five days Gilman Scholarship helped defray a week at the Soros Foundation. I greatly enjoyed my academic and the cost of my experience abroad. My study and intern abroad internship experience, but the part I plan to encourage others to take experience gave me a sense of of my experience that completely advantage of this life-changing confidence in myself and my changed my life was utterly opportunity. abilities, and gave me a chance to unexpected. During my second grow both personally and week in Kyrgyzstan, I quite literally “The most significant professionally. stumbled into an English teaching attribute I gained from job. I discovered that I greatly my study and intern My research at the Soros enjoyed teaching and am abroad experience was a Foundation opened up a new area passionate about helping people sense of confidence in of interest for me that I had never learn. Before this, I had never even myself and an ability to even considered before. Most of considered teaching as a potential adapt to new and my work focused on identifying career path, but it is something I unexpected situations.” the most effective ways to use am definitely considering now. Fo l l o w - on Service Project For my Follow-on Service Project, Experience Blog showcases stories blogging and hope to continue I took a slightly different route from current Gilman scholars here in the U.S. I used the blog to than most. I applied to be a Gilman abroad to spread awareness of the talk about different parts of my Global Experience Blog opportunity and encourage experience, such as my initial Correspondent and was fortunate students to apply. I had never expectations, my encounters with enough to be chosen to share my blogged before, so it was a culture shock, and how my life in experiences in Kyrgyzstan through completely new endeavor for me. Kyrgyzstan differed from my life this venue. The Gilman Global I found that I greatly enjoyed back in the US. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs 2 Administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE) Kelsey Ball, Morocco, 2014 Ohio University, Athens Ohio majors so different than my own. capable of reaching their goals if Although studying abroad was not they set their mind to it. required, it was an important goal for me personally. I have always Currently I am finishing my last felt that understanding other year of college, and studying people and their culture is a vital abroad has absolutely affected my and admirable quality to possess career choices. I am looking into regardless of career ambition. traveling to South America in During my abroad experience, I order to help teach a Diabetes was given the opportunity to live Prevention Program. I am with a wonderful host family, who definitely a huge advocate for taught me so much about the helping students and showing Moroccan culture through their those in the Exercise Physiology cooking and extremely caring major that it is possible, and also personalities. I was able to learn extremely beneficial, to study H aving the opportunity to and truly feel that the knowledge I abroad in our field. I cannot wait learn and live in another country gained will benefit not only my to work with students in their was an experience that I used to career, but also my understanding journey to achieve their goals of believe was out of my reach. That of the world around me. studying abroad. was until I was given information on the Gilman Scholarship, which I was able to travel to other cities ended up allowing me to be a part in Morocco such as Ifrane, of an internship abroad program in Chefchaouen, and Merzouga. Each Meknes, Morocco. For an entire of these places were once-in-a- “I have always felt that month, I was able to observe and lifetime experiences that I would understanding other help practice Physical Therapy not trade for anything. Studying people and their culture with children who have various abroad would not have been is a vital and admirable mental and physical disabilities. possible for me if it were not for quality to possess the Gilman Scholarship. It allowed regardless of career As an Exercise Physiology major, it me to achieve a dream I strived ambition.” was eye opening and exciting to for ever since beginning college. have the chance to work with The Gilman Scholarship solidified other students in many various my firm belief that everyone is Fo l l o w - on Service Project As the President of our Exercise field and funding opportunities, my field the many opportunities Physiology Club at Ohio such as the Gilman Scholarship. being offered to them and how University, part of my Follow-on So many students are interested these experiences abroad can Service Project entailed in studying or interning abroad, help them personally, conducting a club meeting about but feel that it is not possible professionally, and academically the opportunities to study or within this particular major. I am will encourage them to go abroad. intern abroad in the health care hopeful that showing students in Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs 3 Administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE) Elizabeth Barrera, India, 2014 University of Texas at Austin Texas My experiences in India have I was finally able to explore another definitely encouraged me to pursue continent, something I had always more opportunities abroad, wanted to do, but was never able to particularly internships. I know with due to my financial needs. I definitely certainty that I will venture outside of would not have been able to the United States in order to pursue participate in this program without more international opportunities in the Gilman Scholarship, and I the future. appreciate the financial support I received for my program in India. I am currently looking for more While I was there, I visited many internship and research opportunities temples, forts, and local markets that in Biomedical Engineering that would opened my eyes to the many allow me to improve my skills and be differences (and similarities) between able to contribute greatly to my field.