News Releases

NJCU Students Receive Gilman Scholarships to Study in Peru

Three of four New Jersey City University students studying in Lima, Peru this fall are doing so as recipients of Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarships. They are the first NJCU students to ever receive this award.

The NJCU recipients are sophomores Aurora Estevez of Bayonne and Joel Paula of Bergenfield, and junior Claudia Severino of Jersey City; sophomore Perla Estevez of Bayonne is the fourth student.

All natives of the Dominican Republic, the NJCU students are studying at Pontifical Catholic University. Aurora, an economics major, is studying economics and ceramics; Ms. Severino, an English and education major, is studying English education; Mr. Paula, a psychology major, and Perla, a photography major, are studying liberal arts.

The NJCU students worked with the University’s Study Abroad Program, which introduces students to study abroad options and guides them through the entire process. About 25 NJCU students study abroad each year.

The NJCU students are among 850 Gilman Scholarship recipients for 2009 who were selected from 1,927 applicants. Recipients are selected through a competitive process and must use the award to defray eligible study abroad costs, including program tuition, room and board, books, local transportation, insurance, and international airfare. Mr. Paul received a $4,000 award and Ms. Estives and Ms. Severino each received $2,500.

Open to students from public and private institutions throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, the Gilman Scholarship Program supports students who have been traditionally under-represented in study abroad programs, including, but not limited to, students with high financial need, students in under-represented fields, students from diverse ethnic backgrounds, and students with disabilities. The Program encourages non-traditional study abroad destinations, especially those outside Western Europe and Australia.

The congressionally-funded program is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State and is administered by the Institute of International Education. Since its inception in 2001, the Gilman Scholarship Program has reviewed 18,960 applications and awarded 4,728 scholarships for study abroad.

News releases by Ellen Wayman-Gordon, and Kelly Resch, Office of Public Information.