Gilman scholarship winners
Photos by Alexander Clap September 03, 2024
Two UD students received the prestigious Gilman scholarships to study abroad in Taiwan and London
Two Blue Hens, Alexander Claps and Daniel Swamy, have been named the newest Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship recipients.
The Gilman Scholarship Program, funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, aims to expand the student population that studies abroad, helping young Americans gain professional skills, develop language abilities, build international networks and broaden their world perspectives. Available to Pell Grant recipients, this national scholarship intends to make study abroad programs more accessible to students of limited financial means. Since 2001, this national scholarship has supported over 41,000 students.
Senior Alexander Claps received this year’s Gilman Scholarship, which enabled him to participate in his first study abroad experience. Traveling abroad has been a goal for the international relations major since his freshman year.
With the support of the Gilman Scholarship Program, Claps had the opportunity to travel to Taiwan to participate in the Taiwan Intensive Summer Language Program. After self-studying Mandarin for the past four years, Claps strengthened his communication skills through this rigorous two-month program. While Claps engaged in Mandarin courses at the National Taiwan University during the day, he also committed to a language pledge, which required practicing Mandarin outside the classroom.
“This experience helped me get more comfortable speaking only Chinese and built my confidence when speaking the language,” Claps said.
To test his progress, Claps traveled to different parts of Taiwan throughout the program, visiting the bustling city of Taipei, the beaches of Kaohsiung, and the mountains surrounding Sun Moon Lake.
“Having the ability to travel during my study abroad allowed me to get out of the classroom and use the Chinese I was learning,” Claps said. “Luckily, Taiwan is equipped with world-class public transportation, making traveling within the island a smooth experience.”
In addition to the Gilman Scholarship, Claps received the Critical Need Language Award, which supports Gilman applicants studying certain languages abroad. While Claps focused on developing his Mandarin, this award is available to students learning Arabic, Azerbaijani, Bahasa Indonesian, Bangla, Hebrew, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Portuguese, Punjabi, Russian, Swahili, Turkish and Urdu.
As Claps returns to Newark this fall, another Gilman recipient, junior Daniel Swamy, prepares to spend the upcoming spring semester in London.
An honors history education student, Swamy selected the London program to fulfill his major requirements while immersing himself in a new culture. Swamy will supplement his studies throughout the semester with excursions to iconic historical sites, such as Stonehenge, Kenilworth Castle, Stratford-upon-Avon and the iconic South Bank. As a self-proclaimed classical history buff, Swamy shared that he is most excited to visit Bath.
With support from the Center for Global Programs and Services (CGPS) and the University Writing Center, Swamy applied for the Gilman Scholarship to make this experience possible.
“I knew that I would need assistance to study abroad based on my economic situation,” Swamy said. “The Gilman Scholarship will help me become acclimated with the world at large. It is a personal goal of mine to learn about different cultures, not only in my classes but through my own experiences.”
In addition to applying for the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship, Swamy took advantage of the Delaware Diplomats program to fund this life-changing experience. Founded in 2014, the Delaware Diplomats program serves to increase access to study abroad, while rewarding students for participating in global engagement opportunities on campus.
“Delaware Diplomats has supported my study abroad plans tremendously,” Swamy said. “I have learned about the world, prepared myself to study abroad, and made a friend from a different culture through the Delaware Diplomats badge system. As a council member, I am looking forward to helping students reach their study abroad goals.”
About Financial Support for Study Abroad
Applications for the 2025 spring Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarships are due by Thursday, October 10, 2024. For more information about the scholarship, eligibility, and how to apply, register for the Gilman Scholarship Overview Webinar on Thursday, September 5 at 5 p.m., and the Tips for Gilman Scholarship Applicants Webinar on Thursday, September 19 at 5 p.m., both on Zoom, or visit the CGPS government scholarships for study abroad webpage.
Every student accepted into a UD study abroad program is considered for CGPS need-based scholarships. To learn more about ways to finance your study abroad experience, visit the CGPS website.
About the Center for Global Programs and Services
The Center for Global Programs and Services (CGPS) at the University of Delaware is home to the operations of UD Global, which includes Study Abroad, International Student and Scholar Services, World Scholars Program and Global Outreach and Partnerships. The Center provides leadership and collaborative innovation in support of all of the University's global initiatives and campus internationalization efforts, with its Global 360 Strategy serving as a roadmap for infusing international perspectives throughout the University’s scholarship, research, and service missions. Focused on a student-centered approach, CGPS provides expert advising and a wealth of global engagement opportunities to the UD campus community, including the weekly International Coffee Hour in the fall and spring semesters.
Follow and engage with @UDGlobal on Instagram and X for the latest updates on everything global happening at UD. Read the UD Abroad Blog and talk to a Study Abroad Ambassador to learn firsthand about the experiences of Blue Hens abroad!
To learn more about financing your abroad experience, visit the CGPS website.
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