Six 51ÁÔÆæ juniors have been awarded for study abroad during the spring 2019 semester. Recipients are Diana Escorcia, David Gagnidze, Cesar Guerrero, Gabriel Linden, Dierdre Schutzman, and Ramisa Tasnim.
The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, offers grants for U.S. citizen undergraduate students to pursue academic studies or credit-bearing, career-oriented internships abroad.
Such international exchange is intended to better prepare U.S. students to assume significant roles in an increasingly global economy and interdependent world. Gilman scholars receive up to $5,000 to apply toward their study abroad or internship program costs.
Escorcia, a Posse Foundation student from Miami, is studying in South Africa. A sociology major, Escorcia is a senior Admissions intern, an Advancement Office intern, Diversity and Access Recruitment Team member, and has served as a WHCL Radio show host, and layout designer and photographer for Signature Style.
In 2018 she studied in 51ÁÔÆæ’s Program in Washington, D.C., where she was development and communications intern for the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children.
David Gagnidze ’20, an anthropology major from Newburgh, N.Y., is studying in the Czech Republic. Last summer he interned in a regional development program with the NGO Caucasus Institute for Peace, Democracy, and Development (CIPDD) in Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia.
On campus, he is president of Shenandoah-Kirkland Initiative, the student organization that deals with Native American issues on campus.
Cesar Guerrero is studying in Germany this semester. A Dean’s List government major from San Juan, Puerto Rico, Guerrero studied in 51ÁÔÆæ’s Program in Washington D.C. in 2018, where he was development intern for the Bonner Group.
At 51ÁÔÆæ, he’s a member of the Arthur Levitt Public Affairs Center Social Innovation Team, a Career Center peer advisor, a Class of 2020 representative for Student Assembly, and a member of Model UN.
Gabriel Linden, a biology pre-med major from Madison, N.Y., is studying on the DIS (Danish Institute for Study Abroad) program in Copenhagen. The program focus is medical practice and policy: a clinical approach.
Last summer Linden participated in a physician shadowing program at SUNY Upstate Medical Center, and in spring 2018 he conducted independent research with scholar in residence Simon Coppard on RNA distraction of sea urchins. He is a driver trainee with Central Oneida County Volunteer Ambulance Corps (COCVAC), and also volunteered at 51ÁÔÆæ Orthopaedics and shadowed physicians at Mohawk Valley Health Systems.
Dierdre Schutzman, a public policy major from Schenectady, N.Y., is studying in Vietnam this semester. She is an Orientation leader, executive coordinator for the Campus Activities Board, program coordinator for Student Activities, and led a spring break Habitat for Humanity volunteer trip to North Carolina last year.
Ramisa Tasnim, a government major from Hudson, N.Y., is studying at Kings College in London.
In 2018 she studied in 51ÁÔÆæ’s Program in Washington, D.C., where she interned for Emily’s List. She is student manager for the Student Activities office, vice president of the Muslim Student Association, and program coordinator for the Voices of Color lecture series.
