ECSU Students Ye Oo and Krystal Lopez Awarded Study Abroad Scholarships

Ye Oo, left, and Krystal Lopez were recently awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship.

Elizabeth City State University students Ye Oo and Krystal Lopez have been awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for study abroad. The study abroad scholarship will give these students the opportunity study in foreign countries and learn firsthand about their host country’s culture. 

“Their study abroad experiences will be sponsored through the Council on International Education Exchange (CIEE), an organization that ECSU has had a production partnership with for two years,” said Dr. Andre Stevenson, director of the university’s Office of International Programs. “Since fall 2018, ECSU has had at least one student receive the prestigious and competitive Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. This semester is no exception. Over the past two years, 11 students have received the Gilman Scholarship.” 

Ms. Oo, a psychology major, and Ms. Lopez, an English major, were awarded a combined $10,000 in Gilman scholarships and $5,000 in CIEE scholarships to study in their countries of choice. Ms. Oo will study in Taiwan while Ms. Lopez will study in Japan.

Not all students from ECSU who have applied to receive this scholarship have been successful, said Dr. Stevenson. Although, he said, some have indeed been successful on their first attempt.

Other students who have made a second or third attempt have been, he added, successful and found themselves studying and living in foreign countries. 

“Ye and Krystal were unsuccessful twice, but received it on their third attempt,” said Dr. Stevenson. “I mention this to highlight the resilience, commitment, and persistence of our students.”  

Dr. Stevenson says that the application process is very time consuming and has proven to be highly competitive. However, ECSU students, he said, “consistently demonstrate their abilities to compete with students from around the country.”

Since fall 2019 additional ECSU students and countries they will visit are:

• Erica Acheampomaa, a junior and social work major, will study in Peru;
• Caya Carter, a sophomore honors student and digital media major, will study in Japan; 
• Naja Cotton, a junior social work major, will study in Morocco; 
• Jahera Dangerfield, a senior honors student majoring in criminal justice, will study in South Africa; 
• Jaida Ellis; a senior honors student majoring in psychology, will study in Argentina; 
• Jesse Ellis, a junior criminal justice major, will study in Argentina; 
• D’Kota Hinton-Louis, a senior social work major, will study in Spain; 
• Omar Richardson, a sophomore aviation science major, will study in Brazil. 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, study abroad has been postponed for students until summer 2021. Upon completion of their study abroad, students will receive three credits toward an elective for graduation through CIEE. 

“The Office of International Programs will continue to work with interested students to assist them with preparing competitive applications,” said Dr. Stevenson. “We are currently working with students in preparation to meet the upcoming March 2021 deadline.