“I believe that understanding animals in their natural habitats is essential — not only for treatment but also for preventive care and long-term conservation. This program is a unique opportunity to learn how to preserve biodiversity while also recognizing the needs of the communities who live off the land,” Banta said.
Banta noted that her education abroad experience will be significantly enhanced because of the Gilman Program.
“This funding will allow me to fully immerse myself in my coursework and the local communities without the constant stress of financial concerns. I’ll be able to engage deeply with the culture, focus on hands-on learning in the field, and truly make the most of this experience — academically and personally — rather than worrying about what I’m missing or sacrificing back home,” Banta said.
Banta said she’s grateful for the support she received toward an experience deeply meaningful to her academic journey. Studying abroad to her means immersing herself in a part of the world she’s never engaged with before, she added.
“It’s an opportunity to step outside of my comfort zone, both personally and academically. As a first-generation student, I’m proud to be paving a new path for my family and showing that opportunities like this are possible. I’m also looking forward to sharing my experience as a student from the United States — not only will I be learning from a new culture, but I’ll also have the chance to teach others about mine, creating a meaningful cultural exchange,” Banta said.
What is the Gilman Scholarship Program?
The Gilman Scholarship Program was originated in 2001 by late U.S. congressman Benjamin A. Gilman to support access to higher education and international education, especially among students with a demonstrated level of financial need who receive a federal Pell Grant for undergraduate study. Established under the International Academic Opportunity Act of 2000, the program is funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. Approximately 3,500 scholarships of up to $5,000 were awarded nationwide in the most recent application cycle.
“Students who receive the Gilman Scholarship are high academic achievers and demonstrate an exceptional level of financial need,” said Kate Manni, director of education abroad. “Most of them are first-generation college students, and over 70% of this year’s cohort are from rural communities in the United States. The federal government’s decision to resume funding to this program after a temporary pause earlier this year means that thousands of American college students, including 18 Penn Staters, will have access to an education abroad experience that will positively affect their academic success and the local communities they will serve in future careers.”
Penn State Global’s Matching Scholarship Guarantee
As part of its ongoing commitment to increasing access to global learning opportunities for all Penn State students, Penn State Global recently launched a guaranteed education abroad scholarship for any Pell Grant recipient. In the year following this announcement, participation in education abroad programs by students receiving Pell Grants increased by 17%, a testament to the impact of financial support.
“Penn State Global aims to provide a level of certainty to students with the highest level of financial need so that they and their families can plan ahead for study abroad knowing they will receive a minimum scholarship of $1,000 for a semester program or $750 for an embedded course, with the potential for that award to be even higher,” said Manni. “Clearly, this scholarship guarantee is resonating with our students, and we are honored to be able to support them in this way.”
Through a partnership with Penn State Undergraduate Research and Fellowship Mentoring (URFM), Penn State Global offers Gilman Scholarship information sessions and application-writing workshops throughout the academic year. Eligible students who attend such a workshop and submit a Gilman Scholarship application receive an additional $200 in guaranteed scholarship funding from Penn State Global, regardless of the outcome of their Gilman Scholarship application.