Three Montclair State Students Earn Prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship

Three Montclair State University students – Samantha Gerbrick, Karina Bloom, and Georgi Naumov – have been named as recipients of the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, giving them the opportunity to study abroad in 2021, if and when pandemic travel restrictions are lifted.

Students’ majors represent Montclair State’s broad range of offerings: Gerbrick is double majoring in Political Science and German, Bloom in Music Performance, and Naumov is double majoring in Mathematics and Economics.  Students will use the grant to gain critical skills in another part of the world and set themselves apart when they graduate by being better prepared for dynamic careers.

“As a veteran, I have a clear idea of how l would like to tailor my experience as a student at Montclair University.  I wanted to create a unique pathway in this new stage of my life by combining education with my love for travel,” says Karina Bloom.  “With the generous help of the Gilman Scholarship, I will be able to study abroad in Spain next year, and embark on my first trip as a civilian! I’m thankful for the Office of International Engagement, the Center for Writing Excellence, family, and friends for assisting me in this process.”

“We are thrilled to have these three students named as Gilman recipients.  Studying abroad is a life-changing opportunity, and the Gilman scholarship supports students who otherwise may not have been able to do so. International Engagement is committed to supporting all students throughout the application process,  and we work diligently each semester to identify and promote the scholarship to all eligible students,” said Samantha Hellwege, Study Abroad Coordinator and Gilman Advisor. “Despite the current travel restrictions, students are still eager to study abroad and we are hopeful that the disruptions caused by the pandemic will soon be behind us so that their experiences can begin.”

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.  The Gilman Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and is supported in its implementation by the Institute of International Education (IIE).

Meet the Recipients:

Samantha Gerbrick, junior, double majoring in Political Science and German with a minor in Global Security and Diplomacy.  Samantha plans to study abroad Academic Year 2021-2022 at the University of Graz, Austria. She is also the recipient of the University’s Montclair-Graz Sister City Scholarship.

Karina Bloom, freshman, majoring in Music Performance.  Karina plans to study abroad Fall 2021 at Nebrija University in Madrid, Spain. Karina is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps.

Georgi Naumov, sophomore, double majoring in Mathematics and Economics.  Georgi plans to study abroad Fall 2021 in Madrid, Spain.

“I believe that for a student, besides the knowledge gathered in classes, learning about cultures and languages of other people, as well as economies of other nations are equally important,” Georgi explained. “My semester in Spain will help me achieve this valuable knowledge.”

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

For more information on the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship visit https://www.gilmanscholarship.org/.