Ten Baruch College Undergrads Win Fall 2020 Gilman International Scholarships
December 18, 2020
From a pool of nearly 7,000 applications, ten Baruch undergraduates were selected for Gilman International Scholarships this Fall 2020, marking the second straight semester of a double-digit win in a single competition period.
From a pool of nearly 7,000 applications, ten Baruch undergraduates were selected for Gilman International Scholarships this Fall 2020, marking the second straight semester of a double-digit win in a single competition period.
“The number of Baruch students who won the Gilman in this competition cycle is outstanding and demonstrates the remarkable capabilities of our students to succeed against challenges,” said Valeria Hymas, Deputy Director of Baruch College’s Office of National and Prestigious Fellowships Advising.
Hymas added, “Just over half of the candidates who applied won the award, proving that the Gilman is within our students’ reach to help them realize their study abroad ambitions. These ten new Baruch Gilman Scholars add to the 11 who won in the Fall 2019 application cycle, meaning that 2020 marked the largest number of Gilman winners in Baruch’s history. We anticipate more Baruch student Gilman Scholarship success in the years to come.”
The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, provides award winners with up to $5,000 to study internationally. The purpose of this program is to “better prepare U.S. students to assume significant roles in an increasingly global economy and interdependent world.” Due to Covid-19 travel restrictions, Fall 2020 award recipients can defer their study abroad plans to summer 2021 and possibly later.
Baruch students awarded Gilman funding to study abroad are:
- Kevin Chen (’23), marketing management major
- Punna Chowdury (’21), finance major
- Victor Deng (’21), finance major
- Jocelyn Gonzalez (’21), corporate communication major
- Oasis Hawk (’21), corporate communication major
- Fathiat Ladejobi (’21), accountancy major
- Allison Lai (’22), international business major and minoring in marketing and Japanese
- Sharon Wong (’21), computer information systems majorTommy Wu (’21), marketing management major
- Shuhua Yan (’21), marketing management major and minoring in communications
Student Award-Winners Seeking to Gain International Perspectives
Allison Lai is looking forward to studying abroad in Fall 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. A Taiwanese-American raised in New York City, Lai said she wanted to study abroad because her family has always emphasized learning and exploring new cultures.
“I plan to use this opportunity to improve my language skills and to expand my cultural experiences,” Lai said. “I hope to work in product management and I firmly believe intercultural experiences are crucial to building strong communication skills. I am glad that I discovered the Gilman scholarship after having great discussions with previous Baruch recipients about their own experiences!”
Shuhua Yan applied to study in Hong Kong. She appreciated all the help Baruch College’s Office of National and Prestigious Fellowships Advising provided throughout the application process, which inspired her to work harder to achieve academic and professional goals.
“With the world becoming increasingly connected, I would gain a competitive advantage from studying abroad as a marketing student by learning about new perspectives and developing a deeper sense of cultural competency,” Yan stated. “The Gilman Scholarship will help me achieve these goals by lessening the financial burden. Overall, studying abroad will be a great opportunity for me to grow personally and professionally.”
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