EUGENE, Ore. -- (Nov. 30, 2012) – The University of Oregon has tied for sixth nationally for its number of Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship recipients for spring 2013 awards that were announced this week.
A total of 2,300 scholarships were awarded this year, and the UO was one of five universities or colleges that produced 10 recipients each.
Gilman Scholarships are available to U.S. undergraduates who are also eligible for the U.S. Pell Grant program for students of limited financial means. The scholarships allow recipients to pursue their academic studies abroad, preparing them for roles in an increasingly global economy.
Overall, 52.6 percent of UO students who completed applications this year for Gilman Scholarships received them. Three students received the maximum $5,000 grant and another five received grants above $4,000. No one received less than $3,000.
"Many of the other universities at the top of the Gilman ranking are much larger than the University of Oregon, which makes our achievement even more remarkable,” said Roger Adkins, associate director of Study Abroad Programs. “The fact that we do as well as many larger universities says a great deal about the support that we provide our students as they apply for distinguished scholarships."
The UO tied for sixth place with UMASS Amherst, UC Santa Barbara, North Carolina State University and Boston College. The University of California at Berkeley topped the list with 36 recipients, followed by George Washington University with 21.
"The UO is proud of this accomplishment -- a signal that our efforts to internationalize the campus and ensure access for students regardless of means continue to bear fruit," said Dennis Galvan, the UO's vice provost of international affairs.
During the 2013 winter and spring terms, the UO Gilman recipients will be participating in study abroad programs and internships in Brazil, Ecuador, Japan, Morocco, Ethiopia, Senegal, South Africa and the Netherlands.
“The distinction of being among the top 10 universities in the Gilman ranking can only be achieved by having a talented and dedicated group of students, along with a staff committed to supporting and working with those students to achieve their goals,” said Luis Ruiz, the UO's study abroad and Gilman Scholarship coordinator.
A total of eight UO students travelled abroad using Gilman Scholarships in fall 2012. During the 2011-12 academic year, the UO produced a total of 33 Gilman Scholars.
The Gilman International Scholarship Program is funded by EducationUSA – a network of more than 400 advising centers around the world that is supported by the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The scholarship program is run through the Institute of International Education.
About the University of Oregon
The University of Oregon is among the 108 institutions chosen from 4,633 U.S. universities for top-tier designation of "Very High Research Activity" in the 2010 Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The UO also is one of two Pacific Northwest members of the Association of American Universities.
MEDIA CONTACT:Joe Mosley, UO media relations, 541-346-3606, jmosley@uoregon.edu
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