TU Pell Grant students win award to help expand access to study abroad

With spring deadline approaching, Study Abroad & Away Office are offering new workshops

By Kyle Hobstetter on February 13. 2022

TU Student in Peru
The Towson University Study Abroad & Away office provides students with many different opportunities to broaden their horizons, and gain once-in-a-lifetime experiences. (Submitted Photo) 

Towson University continues to help students achieve, whether that鈥檚 on campus or going off to another country.

This past December, six TU students were awarded up $5,000 as part of the , which provides opportunities to Study Abroad for Pell Grant recipients who have demonstrated financial need.

According to the Study Abroad & Away Office, 31 Towson University students have received Gilman Scholarship opportunities since the spring of 2012.

Providing Pell Grant students this opportunity is one of many examples of how Towson University has fostered an environment where students achieve nearly the same graduation success rate as the entire student body.

In 2021, Towson University was recognized by 鈥淯.S. News & World Report鈥� as one of the best 麻豆传媒 in the country for social mobility. TU students are prepared to lead their communities with integrity, civic-mindedness, and creativity in service of the public good.

鈥淸Those numbers] really show that there is a dedicated support on our campus to increasing access to these types of opportunities, especially for students who traditionally might not be able to study overseas,鈥� says Katie Villamar, associate director for Study Abroad & Away. 鈥淚t also recognizes that we have a diverse student body seeking these types of experiences.鈥�

As the spring term continues, the Gilman International Scholarship program is open for applications for the summer and fall of 2022, and for the 2023 academic and calendar year. The Gilman Scholarship deadline for the spring is March 1.

Students who are eligible must be a United States citizen, enrolled as an undergraduate student, a Federal Pell Grant recipient and applying for a study or internship program outside of the United States.

As students show interest in the Gilman Scholarship, the Study Abroad & Away staff wants to make sure students know the Gilman Scholarship process is exceedingly competitive. Staff members are offering special workshops to help students get ready for the application process.

鈥淚鈥檝e served as a Gilman Selection Panelist before, so I鈥檝e seen what makes a successful Gilman application and what doesn鈥檛,鈥� says Jacklyn Fisher, assistant director of the Study Abroad & Away Office. 鈥淭U students have some incredible stories to share and are seeking out life-changing opportunities overseas, so my goal for these workshops is to use my experiences with Gilman to help them put forward the strongest applications possible.鈥�

Students can register now for the information sessions below. All three information sessions will be held in the Study Abroad & Away Office located in the Psychology Building, Room 407.

  • Info Session:  
  • Info Session:  
  • Essay Writing Workshop: