Kent State鈥檚 commitment to providing transformational education-abroad experiences for students has become even stronger with the addition of more than 20 new scholarships worth $750,000 in total.
鈥淭he University understands the importance of education abroad and over the past several years has worked to remove barriers for our students,鈥 said Amber Cruxton, director of education abroad in Kent State's Office of Global Education.
Kent State students in Kigali, Rwanda
One of the new scholarships offered by Kent State鈥檚 Office of Global Education is The Gilman Application Incentive Scholarship. It鈥檚 designed to encourage students who receive a federal Pell Grant to apply for the , which is worth anywhere from $3,000-$5000 toward a student鈥檚 education-abroad program. 鈥淚t has the potential to be one of our most impactful, new scholarships,鈥 said Desiree Dube, senior advisor, Education Abroad. 鈥淭he aim of the Incentive Scholarship is for students to have the strongest application possible for the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, and to guarantee at least $2,000 toward their education-abroad program if they meet the eligibility requirements.鈥
Another scholarship, the Office of Global Education鈥檚 Education Abroad General Scholarship was established to help students in need finance their education abroad experience. The award amounts are $500, $1,000, $1,500.
There is also a Project Passport Fund to help students who are in need of financial assistance to obtain a U.S. passport.
Details and requirements for all currently available education-abroad scholarships can be viewed here.
Kent State students explore a shop in Kigali, Rwanda
Providing Access to the World
Dube said that since the scholarships were launched in late September, advisors have been meeting with students who are eligible to get a significant portion of their education-abroad programs paid for by combining some of the different scholarships that are available. Students with the greatest financial need can get funds to finance nearly all of their program costs.
Kent State鈥檚 goal is to provide very accessible funding for students who want to study abroad. 鈥淲e are excited to offer an expanded list of scholarships to Kent State students,鈥 said Dube. 鈥淲hether someone is an undergraduate student, graduate student, U.S. student or international student, with these new offerings, nearly all Kent State students will have at least one scholarship they can apply for.
鈥淭here is so much to be gained from having an education-abroad experience." - Molly Papay, assistant director, Education Abroad
Kent State students inside Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris
Committed to Internationalization
The university was recently recognized with a Senator Paul A. Simon Award for Comprehensive Internationalization 鈥 the nation鈥檚 top prize for excellence in global education. A large part of that recognition comes from Kent State providing immersive, enriching educational experiences through more than 200 programs in more than 60 countries around the world.
鈥淭here is so much to be gained from having an education-abroad experience, regardless of one鈥檚 academic major or life plans,鈥 said Molly Papay, assistant director, Education Abroad. 鈥淥ur hope is that this new scholarship funding will make studying abroad 鈥 even if it is for just one week 鈥 a possibility for all Kent State students who wish to challenge themselves to grow and explore the world.
Kent State students exploring a street in Florence
All photos by Bob Christy, senior photography coordinator, University Communications and Marketing