UO students awarded important scholarships for study and work abroad

EUGENE, Ore. -- (Sept. 12, 2008) -- For the second consecutive year, the University of Oregon ranks sixth among U.S. colleges and universities for the number of students awarded with Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships.

Eight UO students received Gilman scholarships for study and/or internship programs in China, Japan, Ireland, Sweden and Tunisia.

The Gilman Scholarship is a federal program administered by the Institute of International Education, the same agency that runs the prestigious Fulbright programs. The Gilman program provides scholarships to qualified undergraduate students who are participating in credit-bearing study abroad or international internship programs during the academic year.

One UO scholarship recipient, Alice Zhang, will study abroad at Peking University in Beijing. She is enrolled in an intensive Mandarin language course and electives to give her a new perspective on her ancestry.

"I want what most study-abroad students want -- a sense of adventure, something new and different," said Zhang. "But I also want go on this trip to be closer to my parents. China has changed since they were young, but I feel like going there will help me to understand my parents' way of thinking a lot more."

The UO scholars join 700 American undergraduate students from more than 320 colleges and universities across the U.S. who were awarded the Gilman International Scholarship this year. Gilman scholars may receive up to $8,000 for full academic-year programs. Awards are pro-rated for shorter programs.

In addition to study-abroad emphasis, the Gilman scholarships provide internship opportunities. Tiffany Reagan, a UO journalism student, will intern at the Dubliner magazine in Dublin, Ireland.

"I hope my time in Dublin will help me better understand another culture and, in turn, help me better understand my own culture," Reagan said. "Also, I know the international work experience will definitely give me an edge in my career field."

Benjamin A. Gilman, who retired in 2002 after serving in the U.S. House of Representatives for 30 years and chairing the House Foreign Relations Committee, valued international experience and started the scholarship program.

UO sponsors more than 165 study programs and international internships in more than 90 countries worldwide. For more information, visit http://international.uoregon.edu/.

About the University of Oregon
The University of Oregon is a world-class teaching and research institution and Oregon's flagship public university. The UO is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), an organization made up of 62 of the leading public and private research institutions in the United States and Canada. Membership in the AAU is by invitation only. The University of Oregon is one of only two AAU members in the Pacific Northwest.

Contact: Julie Brown, 541-346-3185, julbrown@uoregon.edu

Link: Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships, http://www.iie.org//programs/gilman/index.html

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