Two students awarded Gilman Scholarships to study abroad

Auburn University students, Joshua Blunt and Charles Sands, have been awarded U.S. Department of State's Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for study abroad opportunities.

The State Department awarded the scholarship to 3,500 American undergraduate students from all 50 states and the District of Columbia this spring to study abroad in over 170 countries.

Blunt, a mechanical engineering major originally from Lexington, Kentucky, will utilize the scholarship to complete a business minor in Milan, Italy.

“Studying abroad has allowed me to explore more of the world and see life through the lens of different people. Being able to see new and unique cultures has broadened my perspective of the world around me,” he said. “Living in a different country comes with challenges, but the value you gain from it is life changing.”

Sands, a double major in political science and philosophy originally from Leeds, Alabama, will use the scholarship to study political science in Brussels, Belgium.

“I had the opportunity to visit countless institutions, including each branch of the European Union, NATO and many other NGOs and IGOs,” he said, reflecting on the impact of study abroad on his career prospects. “I was also given the opportunity to participate in the German Marshal Fund’s annual Trans-Atlantic Conference in Brussels, where I was able to ask questions and form relationships with foreign diplomats and individuals in their career fields.”

“Students who study abroad show an increase in resilience, independence, confidence, and networking; all salient skills that boost carer and employability outcomes," said Mariel Goble, director of Auburn Abroad. "When programs are develoed at Auburn, we focus on custom programs so that students can not only gain these skills but know that the programs will also contribute to their academic plan.

"As a result, students can acquire academic, professional and personal development, making them truly competitive for the global workforce."

Auburn Abroad will host two workshops this fall to assist students interested in applying for the next Gilman application cycle. The next application cycle deadline is at 11:59 p.m. PT, on Oct. 3. In the meantime, contact the office for more information.

Established by the U.S. Congress, the Gilman Scholarship is an initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and is aided in its implementation by the Institute of International Education.