Texas Border Business
McAllen, Texas – Eleven students from the World Language Department at South Texas College have received the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. The scholarship will be used to study abroad or intern abroad in Spain during the 2017-2018 academic year.
The STC Study Abroad Program continues to empower students throughout their study abroad experience. The program internationalizes a curriculum while helping students grow personally, academically, and professionally.
The Gilman scholarship has enabled more than 25,000 Americans of diverse backgrounds to engage in experiences abroad since 2011. Gilman Scholars receive up to $5,000 to apply towards their study abroad or internship program costs.
“The Gilman scholarship has helped me put up the first milestone in my international travels. Its set the standard of what I should expect from myself and my life in the future,” said Sabas Garcia, Gilman Scholarship recipient. “The Gilman scholarship program was great with helping me step by step to apply for the scholarship.”
The STC Study Abroad Program in Spain launched in 2013. Since then, there have been 42 STC students who have traveled to Spain to study various subjects offered like Spanish, art, history, speech, guitar, and sociology. Nine STC students have been awarded the Benjamin A. International Scholarship totaling $28,000.00 to cover their study abroad expenses.
Currently, 17 students will be traveling to Spain during Summer I, 2018.
This year, students Sabas I. Garcia and Karen Villarreal were awarded $3,500 and $3,000 respectively during the first awarding cycle. They are two of nearly 1,000 American undergraduate students from 386 colleges and universities across the United States selected to receive the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship.
“I am a history major at South Texas College trying to research my ultimate goal of becoming a high school history teacher to help students love history as much as I do,” said Karen Villarreal. “Receiving this scholarship is an amazing accomplishment in my life. I get to show my community that anything is possible and that there are a lot of great opportunities like this scholarship waiting for you.”
The Study Abroad Program will be recruiting students for Summer of 2019 this upcoming fall. All interested students should apply early in the fall semester to benefit from installment plans and scholarships available.
To inquire more about the program, contact Hector Villarreal, Associate Professor of Spanish at 956-872-2692 or email at hectorv@southtexascolleg.edu. Delia Magdaleno, Associate Professor of Spanish and Study Abroad Coordinator at 956-782-8380 or email at deliam@southtexascollege.edu.
