Gilman scholarship winners

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.