Montclair State Students Earn Prestigious Study Abroad Scholarship

Montclair State University students Ashley Almanzar and Salma Kwarteng have earned the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, giving them the opportunity to study abroad in 2021, if and when pandemic travel restrictions are lifted.

Both majoring in Biology, Almanzar and Kwarteng will use the grant to gain critical skills in another part of the world and set themselves apart when they graduate by studying languages considered “critical needs” in the American workforce.

“Learning and experiencing life in another culture is a deeply impactful developmental experience for students. The Gilman Scholarship helps make this opportunity accessible to students who might not otherwise have the resources to go abroad,” said Domenica Dominguez, director of International Engagement for the University. “We are so proud and excited for Ashley and Salma. They will make excellent ambassadors of Montclair State and the U.S., abroad.”

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship is a grant program that enables students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad. It is open to U.S. citizen undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university to participate in study and intern abroad programs worldwide.

Almanzar, a senior, hopes to be able to study in South Korea in spring 2021, and Kwarteng, a sophomore, also hopes to study in South Korea in fall 2021.

“Studying abroad in South Korea has been my dream since I got accepted into college,” Kwarteng said. “This opportunity will help me view things from a different perspective, help me grow and to take interest in many things that can contribute to what I want to achieve in the future.”

For more information on Montclair State University’s study abroad programs visit montclair.edu/study-abroad.