Hamilton juniors Angel Pichardo and Hannah Strong have been awarded Gilman International Scholarship Program awards for undergraduate study abroad in the spring 2016 semester. Pichardo plans to study in the biomedicine program at the Danish Institute for Study Abroad (DIS) in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Strong will enroll at the University of Capetown, South Africa, in the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) arts and sciences program.
The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, offers grants for U.S. citizen undergraduate students to pursue academic studies or credit-bearing, career-oriented internships abroad. The program is administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE).
Major: Biology
Hometown: Corona, N.Y.
High School: Forest Hills High School
Pichardo, a biology major from Corona, N.Y., is a sports medicine student assistant who works primarily with Hamilton’s football team. He has served as a volunteer at North Shore Hospital in Forest Hills, N.Y., and as a group leader at Oasis Day Camps in Bayside, N.Y. At Hamilton Pichardo has participated in the development office Phon-a-thon, is a member and secretary of Brothers, a member of Tropical Sol Latin Dance Group, and the Culinary Club.
Major: Sociology
Hometown: Elmira, N.Y.
High School: Elmira Free Academy
Strong, a sociology major and Dean’s List student from Elmira, N.Y., is a member of the Hamilton Alumni Recruitment Team (HART) that works with alumni volunteers to coordinate college fair and off-campus admissions interview assignments. She has served as an Admissions office tour guide; a lifeguard at Hamilton’s Bristol swimming pool; a freshmen orientation & exploration adventure leader; a member of the Ultimate Frisbee team; and A Young People’s Project math literacy volunteer.
The Gilman International Scholarship Program highlights the importance of international study for undergraduates given the increasing global interdependence of economies and cultures in today’s world. As such, it seeks to eliminate one of the largest barriers for many study abroad candidates: the financial burden.
The program also encourages students to pursue their studies or internships in areas of the world not conventionally selected as study abroad destinations (i.e. outside of Western Europe, Australia or New Zealand). Award recipients must complete a follow-up project that promotes international education to their universities or their home communities.
