Kylie Edwardson, a senior majoring in elementary education with a minor in learning technology, was awarded $3,000 to participate in international student teaching. She will be attending this program during the Spring 2025 semester and will know her site location in August.
Kylie Edwardson, a senior majoring in elementary education with a minor in learning technology, was awarded $3,000 to participate in international student teaching. She will be attending this program during the Spring 2025 semester and will know her site location in August.
“This scholarship means the world to me. I am so thankful for this opportunity,” she said. “I have known since my junior year in high school that I wanted to participate in a study abroad program during my time at Iowa State; however, I never thought it was possible due to financial constraints.”
“I researched countless scholarships and immediately knew I needed to apply for the Gilman scholarship,” Edwardson said. “I had it bookmarked on my computer for months, and when it was time to apply, I knew I needed to put the work in. In the end, it was all worth it.”
“I am so excited to do eight weeks of my student teaching experience abroad,” Edwardson said. “I am excited to see what education systems are like around the world. I feel this will also help me integrate new things into my classroom when I return to the States.”
LaMaria Ross, a sophomore majoring in business with a minor in apparel, merchandising and design, was awarded $5,000 to study at the London College of Fashion during the Spring 2025 semester.
“Winning this scholarship doesn’t just allow me to have financial assistance, but it also offers me the opportunity to serve as a cultural ambassador for my country,” Ross stated. “It also validates the hard work I have been putting in to help have an education experience that I might not have been able to otherwise. This scholarship allows me to study abroad to challenge myself academically and culturally to have personal experience and a better understanding of the world,” she added.
“I am most looking forward to being in a different culture and environment,” she said. “I look forward to the various academic opportunities that studying abroad will provide, such as exposure to the different teaching styles, perspectives and fields of study that may not be as focused on here.”
“I want to thank the Gilman International Scholarship for giving me this opportunity. I also would like to thank the advisor from the scholarship program, Stephanie Lopez,” she added.
The Gilman scholarship is is open to students nationwide who are interested in studying abroad. The requirements for this scholarship are to submit a statement of purpose and a community impact essay along with the student’s transcripts. Additionally, applicants must receive the Federal Pell Grant and apply or be accepted into a credit-bearing study abroad program.
Students interested in applying for future Gilman scholarships should look for the next application to open in mid August and it will close on Oct. 10, at 11:59 p.m. PST. Students who apply must plan to then study abroad sometime between Dec. 1, 2024, and Oct. 31, 2025.
