ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – Three Winthrop University students have earned prestigious Gilman Scholarship awards to study abroad in Europe during the upcoming academic year.
The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Programenables students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad, providing them with skills critical to national security and economic prosperity.
The three students and their study destinations are:
*Alyssa Washington, senior mass communication and Spanish major, Spain
*Yashuri Del Rosario Rodriguez, senior mass communication and French major, France
*Trenedy Hayden, sophomore fine arts major, Italy
Hayden said it is a great honor to be a provisional recipient of the Gilman Scholarship. A fine arts painting major, she has always wanted to study abroad in Europe.
She hopes to go to Florence University of Art before spring 2022. “I chose Florence, Italy, because to see and study in the birthplace of the Renaissance would be amazing,” Hayden said. “I would have the opportunity to see works of art from old master painters, look at the beautiful scenery and eat incredible food.”
For Washington, she said she was nervous in selecting Spain because it is such a popular study abroad location and she might be overlooked. "That certainly was not the case," she said. "Getting the opportunity to study in a foreign language at an international institution excites me. I will learn about the a different culture’s way of life, language, history and background."
University officials said Winthrop students are ideal candidates for the parameters of the Gilman Scholarship. “I'm so proud of these three young ladies and the work they put into their applications,” said Leslie Bickford, an associate professor of English and director of the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards. “The program is working hard to increase opportunities for students who had initially intended to study abroad this fall; I hope each of our winners will find a way to use this money that fits her circumstances well."
COVID-19 has prompted organizations and higher education institutions to alter study abroad plans.
Winthrop recalled its spring 2020 study abroad participants and cancelled all in-person study abroad participation during summer terms and fall semester due to COVID-19 and U.S. State Department and CDC global travel advisories.
With an uncertain few months ahead, Washington and Rodriguez are considering their options, but can use the awards to pay for virtual study abroad classes while attending Winthrop in the fall.
Or, they may be able to participate with in-person study abroad programs when those programs resume in the spring or summer. Hayden hopes to study abroad in Italy during spring semester.
