Jay Gogue, Interim President of the NMSU System | New Mexico State University
Jay Gogue, Interim President of the NMSU System | New Mexico State University
Nine New Mexico State University (NMSU) students have been awarded scholarships to study abroad, totaling $32,500. The awards include the U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, the supplementary Critical Need Language Award, and the Gilman-McCain Scholarship.
Recipients Steven Sierra, Somalia Francis, Lesley Merino, Maria Mendoza, Sofia Torres, Alexandria Garcia, Eduardo Cranfield, Nasai Tafoya, and Vincent Calderazzo will study in Italy, Spain, Costa Rica, South Korea or Japan during the summer or fall semester.
The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship is a competitive program providing financial support for students to study or intern abroad. The Critical Need Language Award is granted to those studying a critical need language where it is predominantly spoken. The Gilman-McCain award funds education abroad for undergraduate children or spousal dependents of active or activated U.S. military personnel.
Lisa Munson, NMSU Education Abroad adviser, emphasized the significant impact of these scholarships: “These experiences provide students with a global perspective and a new cross-cultural understanding that can make them more competitive on the job market or for graduate school applications,” she said. “Studying abroad is also a great way to boost one’s self-confidence, push you out of your comfort zone and expand your worldview.”
Vincent Calderazzo, a fine arts major at NMSU who will study Japanese history in Japan during fall 2024, shared his enthusiasm: “After my previous trip in 2023, I met so many different artists who inspired me to seek a better understanding of my art and myself,” he said.
Eduardo Cranfield will also be studying in Japan as part of his East Asian studies minor. He was influenced by his parent’s deployment in Korea and expressed interest in Japan's culture and technological advancements.
Somalia Francis will be studying international business in Seville, Spain. She noted the importance of this experience for her degree program and future aspirations: “Spain has a highly developed financial sector... being accepted for the Gilman scholarship would bring me closer to realizing that dream,” she said.
For more information about Education Abroad at NMSU, visit https://oel.nmsu.edu/educationabroad/.
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