Scholarships Allow College of Charleston Students Study Abroad

^{Above: Gilman Scholars Keisha Gonzalez-Diaz, Alexander Geis,Holly Hutchinson and Erin Williams. Not pictured: Avé-Ella Blanchette, Connor Martin and Juanita Rodriguez. (Photos by Catie Cleveland)}

One of the goals Keisha Gonzalez Diaz had as a College of Charleston student was to study overseas. But she knew there was one big roadblock in her way: the program’s cost. 

“As a Latina student in college with a sibling and a single mother, I am constantly seeking financial support for my education to ease the financial burden on my mom,” she says. “I am fully aware of the high costs of education and try to find opportunities that can support my goals while helping her manage our financial challenges.“

This year, Diaz and six other College of Charleston students will fulfill their dream of studying overseas after receiving the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. Another student, Vivian Nguyen, received the Freeman-ASIA Scholarship to study overseas.

Both scholarship programs provide the opportunity to study abroad to students who might not otherwise participate due to financial constraints.

Juanita Rodriguez is using the Gilman Scholarship to study in Argentina this fall semester.

“Being able to expand my knowledge over other Spanish-speaking countries not only deepens my cultural awareness, but also contributes to my Spanish,” she says. “While I am a heritage speaker, I want to advance my Spanish-speaking skills. I desire to improve my Spanish during my time in Argentina and become more culturally aware.“

The Gilman and the Freeman-ASIA scholarships provide need-based funding to assist recipients with the cost of the study abroad program and related expenses, including airfare, basic living costs, local transportation, books, etc.

This year’s Gilman and Freeman-ASIA winners, their majors and destination countries are as follows.

Gilman Scholarship Winners

• Avé-Ella Blanchette is a senior majoring in dance and special education who studied in the UK, Belgium and the Netherlands.
• Alexander Geis is a senior majoring in German studies and business administration who completed an internship in Germany.
• Keisha Gonzalez-Diaz is a junior majoring in computer information systems with a minor in data science who studied in Spain.
• Holly Hutchinson is a senior majoring in international studies with minors in Italian and hospitality and tourism who completed an internship in Italy.
• Connor Martin is a senior majoring in marine biology who studied in Panama.
• Juanita Rodriguez is a sophomore majoring in psychology and political science with a minor in Spanish who is currently studying in Argentina.
• Erin Williams is a senior majoring in anthropology with a minor in creative writing who studied in Italy.

Freeman-ASIA Scholarship Winner 

• Vivian Nguyen is a sophomore majoring in computer science with a minor in data science who will study abroad in South Korea in spring 2025.

Information about these scholarships is available at the College of Charleston Office of Nationally Competitive Awards. Applications for the Gilman Scholarship are due at 2:59 a.m. EST on Oct. 10, 2024. Interested students may contact Sidney Woram, associate director of nationally competitive awards, at nationalawards@cofc.edu.