Carlos Guadarrama, a business major, is one of five GateWay Community College students to receive the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. Over 250 undergraduate students from 140 colleges and universities across the U.S. were selected. Guadarrama will study the current business, economic and entrepreneurial environment of Japan and South Korea.
“This will be an incredible journey,” says Guadarrama. “I wish to study abroad to expand my mind and personal abilities. I never thought I would have this opportunity.”
Guadarrama is the first in his family to attend college. Growing up, Guadarrama’s goals of studying abroad and becoming a successful business owner were often met with skepticism.
“I thought I was wedged into a space with no options other than just going to school, work and home,” says Guadarrama. “That’s basically what my parents, friends and others would tell me. If I wanted to become famous, I was a dreamer. If I wanted to become a business owner, I was unrealistic. Not only do I want to prove them wrong, I want to show them and others that it’s possible to go beyond your comfort zone, break personal barriers and achieve your dreams.”
Guadarrama is enrolled in international trade and beginning Japanese Conversation courses this summer in Fukuoka, Japan, and Seoul, South Korea. The program includes online classes May 25-June 6. Travel dates are June 7-July 1.
Gilman scholars receive up to $5,000 to apply toward their study abroad or internship program costs. The program aims to diversify the students who study and intern abroad. 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.
Four more GateWay students have received the prestigious study abroad Gilman Scholarship, bringing GateWay's total recipients to five. To put this into perspective, in 2014 ASU had 15, out of 82,000, students who were awarded. Congratulations to Heidi Hutchins, Business faculty, who contributed quite a bit of time and effort to educating and helping students with the application process. The following recipients are studying abroad in either Japan/South Korea or the Czech Republic this summer: Monique Artis, Carlos Guadarrama, Matthew Jorenstaad, Modest Juarez and Crystalynn Ramos. Learn more about the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship here.
For more information, visit www. gatewaycc.edu/study-abroad or contact Program Director Heidi Hutchins, hutchins@gatewaycc.edu or (602) 286-8931.