SAU named a top producer of Gilman scholars

Spring Arbor University (SAU) was recognized by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs for being a top producer of Gilman Scholarship recipients over the past twenty years. Since 2004, SAU has had 65 Gilman Scholarship recipients, totaling more than $226,000 in awards.

“We are extremely honored to receive this award. Studying abroad has been a key component of our liberal arts education for undergraduate students, and we are grateful that our student recipients have the opportunity to participate in a study abroad program,” says Dr. Brent Ellis, President of SAU.

Since 1986, SAU has been committed to studying abroad when participating in the university’s cross-cultural studies program was first required. In addition to the Gilman Scholarship, SAU began providing additional financial help for students studying abroad in 2011. The Gilman Scholarship is available to Pell Grant recipients who are U.S. citizens and are going to study abroad for a semester or 4-6 weeks or longer summer term.

Celebrating the twentieth anniversary of the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs has reshaped study abroad to make it more accessible and inclusive for American students by providing scholarships to outstanding U.S. undergraduate students through its Gilman Program. Since the program’s inception in 2001, more than 34,000 Gilman Scholars from all U.S. states and U.S. territories have studied or interned in more than 155 countries in the world.

The Bureau, in collaboration with the Institute of International Education, compiles the nominees, which are organized into four categories based on institution size and type: small, medium, and large institutions and associate-awarding institutions. SAU was honored as one of twenty small institutions of less than 5,000 students across the U.S.A. SAU is also the only CCCU institution, Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, to be awarded this honor.

To learn more about the Gilman and Gilman-McCain Scholarships and how their diverse alumni are pursuing impactful careers, contact eca-press@state.gov and visit www.gilmanscholarship.org.The Gilman application process is administered at SAU through Diane Kurtz, Director of Cross Cultural Studies. To learn more about study abroad opportunities at SAU, click here.