For the second consecutive year, a Central Georgia Technical College student has been awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, which provides funding to participate in study abroad programs. And for the winner, Sabrina Meyer, a first-year accounting student, it came as a reminder for the trip.
 
"I had forgotten by the time it came in," Meyer said, recalling a moment in the Academic Success Center when a classmate reminded her on the day the winner was to be announced. But, how could she forget about applying?
 
Going to Scotland was a flyer she zoomed by in front of a classroom. Applying for the scholarship came in a rush between major class assignments, the two essays it required, and the basic, everyday college rigor. She was not even able to attend the information meeting for the trip in February because she had to be in class.
 
Don’t misunderstand. As the only member of her family to never travel abroad she wanted to go, but the last thing on her mind before being awarded the scholarship was Scotland, and rightly so.
 
"I was only going to go to Scotland if the money made sense," she said, claiming it to be a lifestyle standard set forth by being raised in a military family, a family that values hard work, patience and preparation. The money definitely makes sense. The $1,500 award will cover nearly half of her costs.

"My family believes that you should find what you love in life, but we understand tomorrow (what comes next) is not a guarantee," Meyer said. "But, if you can find something you feel you need to do and combine it with something you want to do, it's more gratifying."
 
Scotland is likely to be gratifying. In addition to the newness of travel abroad, the trip will be her first taste of a four-year college experience. It is a "car with heated seats," as she put it; a need for a Humanities course combined with a want for a North Sea saunter.
 
When she departs with the rest of the group in July, it will be unlike anything she has done before. Priorities on her list are taking-in the everyday life of students and the Scottish public, as well as developing an understanding of how they value and spend money.
 
Economics is not a course offered on the trip, but as a student in Accounting, she hopes to tally a few lessons along the way.
 
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 Congressional 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 Scholarship program after the College was accepted as a participant. Rick Hutto, director of Global Initiatives at CGTC, said of the second year selection of Meyer; “We are delighted to have Sabrina earn this scholarship in only our second year of eligibility. We are now 2-for-2 in seeing students benefit from the program, helping them realize goals of study abroad.”
 
The Scotland study abroad trip will be held this summer at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Scotland from July 1-15, 2017. Courses in Humanities, Business, and Information Technology are available to students on the trip. Registration for the trip is still ongoing.