UTEP Students Awarded Study Abroad Scholarships Totaling $41,000

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Published on Friday, 07 December 2012 20:57

Eleven students enrolled at The University of Texas at El Paso have been awarded Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships totaling $41,000 to pursue academic studies abroad.

UTEP students received more Gilman scholarships than any other Texas institution, and the University is tied for seventh nationally in the number of students awarded. 

Institutions tied with UTEP include The University of Minnesota and Florida International University – both with far larger student enrollment. 

Awards given to each student range from $1,500 to $5,000 and destinations include French Guiana, the Czech Republic and Switzerland. 

Among the recipients are Karla and Roxanna Sifuentes, sisters who will be the first UTEP students to study abroad in South Korea. 

“I am looking forward to representing UTEP in South Korea and I hope to encourage more students to consider Asian countries when they think about participating in study abroad,” Karla Sifuentes said. 

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State sponsors the Benjamin A. Gilman scholarship. Selection criteria include students who demonstrate high financial need, have diverse ethnic backgrounds, and are interested in studying in nontraditional countries. 

The program aims to broaden the student population that studies abroad by supporting undergraduates who might otherwise not participate due to financial constraints. 

Roxanna Sifuentes said, “I hope that other students who want to study abroad, but are hesitant to do it because of financial reasons, realize that there are programs like the Gilman Scholarship that assist students.”