Jilynne Nunn, a Business Administrative Technology major at Central Georgia Technical College, was recently awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship which provides funding to participate in study abroad programs. For the second year, students and faculty from CGTC will travel to Aberdeen, Scotland in the summer to study at Robert Gordon University.

Nunn has a love for travelling but has never left the U.S. She has Scottish ancestors and has dreamed of visiting for over two decades. Nun will be taking both classes offered during the study abroad—International Business Principles and Introduction to Humanities. Both will count towards her elective requirements for her diploma at CGTC.

“I am beyond excited and way beyond blessed to have this opportunity come my way,” said Nunn. “It really is a life changing event for me.”

The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program offers grants for U.S. citizen undergraduate students of limited financial means to pursue academic studies or internships abroad. The Gilman Scholarship Program aims to support students who have been traditionally underrepresented in education abroad, including students with high financial need, community college students, students in underrepresented fields such as the sciences and engineering, students with diverse ethnic backgrounds, and students with disabilities.

Award recipients are chosen by a competitive selection process and must use the award to defray eligible study or intern abroad costs. These costs include program tuition, room and board, books, local transportation, insurance and international airfare.

This congressionally funded program is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State and is administered by the Institute of International Education through its office in Houston, TX. Named after retired congressman Benjamin A. Gilman from New York, the program was established by the International Academic Opportunity Act of 2000.

In 2016, CGTC students became eligible to participate in the Gilman International Scholarship program after the College was accepted as a participant. Rick Hutto, director of Global Initiatives at CGTC, said, “We are delighted that in our first year of eligibility, one of our students was successful and was granted this generous scholarship.”

Summer semester begins May 17. New students should enroll now and apply for financial aid. New student registration begins April 4. Visit www.centralgatech.edu for more information.