Three SJU Undergrads Receive Prestigious Gilman Scholarship

“Being exposed to different ways of life— and different outlooks on life— is very important to anyone’s development,” observed Cammi Roberts ’18Ed while discussing her Study Abroad experience. Cammi, along with fellow students Alexandra Hicks ’18CPS and Michelle Huang ’21Pharm.D., recently received The Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship sponsored by US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs for the spring 2017 term.

Gilman scholars receive up to $5,000 to offset the costs of their study abroad or internship courses. The scholarship program was established to provide financial resources for undergraduates who are US citizens of limited means to pursue academic studies or credit-bearing, career-oriented internships abroad.

“Nearly forty percent of St. John’s undergraduates study abroad, and students like Alexandra, Cammi, and Michelle are perfect examples of the brilliant, dedicated young scholars who comprise our study abroad population,” said Matthew Pucciarelli, Associate Provost for Global Studies. “We can’t wait to see how they take advantage of their time in Europe— and how it impacts their future.”

Studying in Rome this semester, Cammi is an adolescent education major teaching in an elementary school that has partnered with The School of Education at St. John’s to allow their students exposure to the classroom styles of another culture.

“I hope to be able to bring some of these ideas into my own teaching philosophy,” she added. “I plan to use the scholarship to make the most of my time abroad, and learn about the culture and lifestyle. Essentially, the scholarship will help me have learning experiences outside the classroom.”  

Alexandra, a criminal justice major, is currently participating in Discover the World: Europe, spending the semester in Rome, Paris, and Seville. “I want to be a homicide detective, possibly an FBI agent,” she said. “So having international travel experience and an understanding of other countries are great assets. It’s not unusual for FBI agents to be placed into any country with a US Embassy. This experience is excellent preparation for that.”

“The best thing,” said Michelle, a pharmacy major, “is the way it helps to broaden your horizons.” Before this she had never been out of the country for a significant length of time. “It definitely makes you feel more independent. But the best thing is meeting new people, seeing how culture affects everyone’s daily life—no matter what country we call home.”