Benjamin Gilman Scholarship

Whether or not I receive this scholarship I plan to promote the Benjamin Gilman Scholarship. I am apart of the TRIO program at NC State. These programs focus on academic, personal and career support for under-resourced undergraduate students. Nationally, TRIO SSS Programs provide opportunities for academic development, assist students in meeting college requirements, and motivate students toward successful completion of their college degree. My physical project will consist of me holding study abroad informational sessions with the students of TRIO at NC State. It is of the utmost importance that I pair up with this program because I will have counselors to help me make the webinars, schedule meetings, and design pamphlets/website. TRIO
I will speak frankly about my experiences before and after the trip and answer questions that students may have. I would also like to get someone, (as a part of my program,) to give a seminar on how to write scholarship essays, and have someone speak specifically about what some of the most popular scholarships are looking for in their scholarship applicants. It would be wonderful if I could get someone from the scholarships to talk to the students as well. It is of the utmost importance that all of the information that I post in these information sessions be posted in an easy to find place online. This is important because many of times people cannot make it to meetings because of work, school, or other responsibilities; or even if they do have time they might rather rest in their bed and watch or read the information instead of walking across campus to hear me talk for an hour; and that is okay too! Having the information online is important because the information is easily reviewable. Students can simply refer back to the website and check off what they have completed, make note of anything they haven’t completed, and answer frequently asked questions. This is an important feature because students who go on to complete these programs will be better prepared for application
I am currently volunteering in the outreach part of this program, and this is a wonderful opportunity to talk to students about the study abroad resources available to them. We already spend time students talking about their future plans for college, career, and life. This a perfect medium to make the most impact to these students. Starting early makes the students better prepared for all the challenges associated study abroad and will potentially allow for more students to have this amazing experience. The purpose of the webinars, meetings, and volunteer hours are to inspire and help provide study abroad resources for students at North Carolina State