Zach Scott is A Freeman-ASIA Awardee for the Fall of 2021. He plans to study environmental sustainability in Thailand and bring his learnings back to Berea. Congratulations, Zach!

The Rhodes Scholarship is a postgraduate award supporting exceptional students from around the world to study at the University of Oxford (only the University of Oxford).

• The Scholarship aims to nurture public-spirited leaders for the world’s future
• Scholars may pursue any full-time postgraduate degree (subject to limited restrictions) offered by the University of Oxford, for a duration of 2-3 years
• Whilst at Oxford Scholars enjoy a comprehensive Rhodes Character, Service & Leadership programme, inclusive of retreats, workshops, conferences, as well as many discussion and social events at Rhodes House, Oxford
• The Scholarship includes full tuition, a maintenance stipend, and flights to and from Oxford at the beginning and end of tenure

How to apply:

Candidates wishing to apply for the Rhodes Scholarship must first be endorsed by the college. Please send a pdf of your application to Ann Butwell by September 15th. In addition to this, you will also need to:

1. proof of citizenship or lawful permanent resident status
2. a certified transcript (or transcripts)
3. a list of principal activities
4. a clear, printable head and shoulders photograph (preferably high resolution)
5. the endorsement of the applicant’s college or university
6. five, but not more than eight, letters of recommendation.  At least four of these letters must be persons from whom the applicant has received undergraduate or graduate instruction, and at least one letter (the fifth) must speak to the applicant’s character
7. a personal statement not exceeding 1000 words which the applicant must attest as wholly truthful and his or her own work. The statement should describe the applicant’s academic and other interests, and describe the specific areas of proposed study and the reasons for wishing to study at Oxford. The statement should be written in as simple and direct a manner as possible and set in a typeface no smaller than 10 points. Selection committees will place special emphasis on the personal statement and it may be forwarded to Oxford colleges to which Rhodes Scholars-elect apply for admission. Committees may, in their discretion, reject any personal statement which fails to meet these requirements.

In addition to this, the applicant must be prepared to attend a reception and personal interview, and remain for possible reinterviews and the election announcement, in the city serving the respective district region, on the Friday and Saturday preceding the Thanksgiving holiday.

For more information, please visit the Rhodes website at http://www.rhodesscholar.org/

Andrea Dowlen ’18, Kelley Farley ’17, Amber Follin ’17, Nicholas Fouch ’18, Amber Mosley ’18, and Emily Smith ’18 are students at Berea College and a few of over 850 American undergraduate students from 359 colleges and universities across the U.S. selected to receive the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs to study or intern abroad during the spring 2017 term. The students will study abroad for an entire term in countries such as Germany, Ireland, Peru, Nepal, Cyprus, and Australia.

Gilman scholars receive up to $5,000 to apply towards their study abroad or internship program costs.  The program offers grants for U.S. citizen undergraduate students of limited financial means to pursue academic studies or credit-bearing, career-oriented internships abroad. Such international exchange is intended to better prepare U.S. students to thrive in the global economy and interdependent world. Students receiving a Federal Pell Grant from two- and four-year institutions who will be studying abroad or participating in a career-oriented international internship for academic credit are eligible to apply.  Scholarship recipients have the opportunity to gain a better understanding of other cultures, countries, languages, and economies — making them better prepared to assume leadership roles within government and the private sector.

Congressman Gilman, who retired in 2002 after serving in the House of Representatives for 30 years and chairing the House Foreign Relations Committee, commented, “Study abroad is a special experience for every student who participates.  Living and learning in a vastly different environment of another nation not only exposes our students to alternate views, but also adds an enriching social and cultural experience.  It also provides our students with the opportunity to return home with a deeper understanding of their place in the world, encouraging them to be a contributor, rather than a spectator in the international community.”

The program is administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE).  The full list of students who have been selected to receive Gilman Scholarships, including students’ home state, university and host country, is available on their website: www.iie.org/gilman. According to Allan Goodman, President and CEO of IIE, “International education is one of the best tools for developing mutual understanding and building connections between people from different countries.  It is critical to the success of American diplomacy and business, and the lasting ties that Americans make during their international studies are important to our country in times of conflict as well as times of peace.”

If you are curious about the Gilman and its wonderful opportunities, then follow this link and find out more information. Not only will this award help in covering costs, but can also help you connect with prestigious Alums and open many gateways if you plan on pursuing an international career.