Alamo Colleges offers a scholarship for up to $1,000.
By Pam Paz
ppaz2@student.alamo.edu
Studying abroad can provide a lifetime of priceless experiences and a wealth of knowledge.
However, studying abroad can come with a steep price, leading some to think only the wealthy can afford to partake in such luxury.
For students who often worry about how they will pay for gas, studying abroad seems an unlikely dream.
Students interested in participating in the program should not be discouraged, however, as scholarships are available for the Summer Abroad program at the Alamo Colleges.
The program provides the option to explore a new part of the world while earning college credit.
The program is faculty-led and students have the opportunity to travel to Canada, China, Italy, Ireland, Japan, England, Peru or Spain. Requirements for the program are a 2.0 GPA and completion of 12 academic cumulative hours.
The application deadline for the program is Dec. 5. For information, visit http://www.alamo.edu/main.aspx?id=1804.
Maria Rivera, international programs coordinator, said students who study abroad gain global experience for future employment.
“As the workforce becomes increasingly more global, those entering the job market will need the skills and experience required to not only compete, but also be successful in their chosen career fields,” she said.
Rivera said many students who study abroad do so with the help of scholarships. Thirty three percent of students who studied abroad in the summer WHEN? received at least one scholarship, while some receive scholarships from multiple sources, she said.
The Summer Faculty Led Scholarship is available through the Alamo Colleges and selected students can receive up to $1,000.
To qualify for this scholarship, students must be enrolled at any of the Alamo Colleges, be accepted into the Study Abroad program and have a minimum of 12 credit hours. They must also be enrolled in a study abroad program taking at least one course.
In addition, they must maintain minimum 2.5 GPA, be a U.S. citizen or legal resident, have completed a FAFSA and completed a Summer Abroad Scholarship application. The scholarship deadline is Jan. 23.
The Fund for Education Abroad offers up to $10,000. The $10,000 is awarded to students who study abroad for a whole academic year, $5,000 is awarded for a semester, and $1,250 is awarded for a four-week summer study abroad program.
Olivia Moore, assistant director for Fund for Education, said 21 scholarships were awarded from more than 500 applicants.
“Our focus is to award scholarships to underrepresented students in junior and community colleges,” she said.
Eligibility for this scholarship requires students to be U.S. citizens or legal residents, undergraduates enrolled in a U.S. university or college, and registered for a four-week study abroad program. The deadline for this scholarship is Jan. 16.
The Benjamin Gilman Scholarship offers up to $5,000 for students traveling to Canada or Spain and up to $8,000 for China.
The student must be a U.S. citizen and undergraduate enrolled in a U.S. university or college, a recipient of the Federal Pell Grant and registered in a program of at least four weeks. The deadline is March 3.
Additional funding sources can be found at www.studyabroadfunding.org, www.gofundme.com and www.borenawards.org/boren_scholarship/how_apply.html.
Students who receive financial aid may use some of the fund toward the program.
For more information about the Alamo Colleges Study Abroad program, scholarships and financial aid, call 210-485-0084 or visit http://www.alamo.edu/international/study-abroad/.
