Leap into the unknown

When Sarah Schubert ’21 decided to study abroad in Buenos Aires, she hadn’t a clue how it would impact her life.

“What felt like a simple choice at the time ended up becoming a catalyst for my academic, personal, and professional life,” said Schubert, who majored in International Studies and Spanish at Denison.

While in Buenos Aires, Schubert lived with a host family, traveled with her small cohort, and completed an independent study project. “It brought my first two years at Denison to life, and gave me the confidence to pursue more,” she said.

That first journey unlocked a Pandora’s box of new experiences. A few years after receiving the Gilman Scholarship that funded her study abroad, Schubert was awarded a Projects for Peace grant, followed by a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Award to Mexico.

“Those opportunities helped shape my path into the field of international education,” she said.

In her work today as a strategic partnerships coordinator at the Watson Institute, Schubert supports rising entrepreneurs and leaders from across the world. Previously, she worked at the International Research and Exchanges Board supporting the U.S. State Department exchange for Latin American entrepreneurs, and served as a facilitator for U.S. State Department-sponsored high school exchanges with the School for International Training.

Schubert’s semester abroad was supported by the Gilman Program, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Dozens of students from The Hill have been awarded Gilman Scholarships, and Denison has been named a Gilman Program 25th Anniversary Top Producing Institution.

The Gilman Scholarship supports study abroad for students with high financial need,“ said Corey Efron, Denison’s assistant director of fellowships. “It levels the playing field and opens up vital opportunities to advance students’ academic and professional goals.”

“As a first-generation student, I am incredibly grateful for the Gilman Scholarship that funded my semester in Argentina,” said Schubert, who recalls her entire family accompanying her to the airport to send her off.

“Everyone was a bit confused and nervous about why I was doing this, but they supported me anyway. I was excited and ready, and Denison had prepared me well.”

Song Huang ’22, who triple majored in Economics, Political Science, and East Asian Studies, found his true north in Iceland, courtesy of a Gilman Scholarship.

Huang explored STEM-related topics through a policy lens at the Iceland School of Energy, Reykjavik University. He visited a hydroelectric power plant, a geothermal power plant, and a wind farm to learn first-hand about hydroelectric power and geothermal energy.

“I saw how government policies influence energy development, particularly the role of hydropower and other renewable energy sources,” said Huang. “This helped me better understand how policy and technical systems intersect.”

The experience also sparked his interest in logistics and supply chains. “Seeing how energy resources are developed and distributed made me realize how much coordination and planning are required behind the scenes,” he said.

Like Schubert, Huang’s study abroad experience helped guide his career path. He pursued opportunities in the supply chain field, and landed his first job with Amazon in Supply Chain Operations.

“Now I’m on a mission to bring same-day delivery to our customers in rural America in as little as 12 hours,” he said.

Subekshya Khatiwada ’27, a double major in Psychology and Spanish, is studying in Salamanca, Spain, where she is taking classes in Spanish and psychology this semester.

Her classroom assignments have taken Khatiwada to historic locations, markets, and schools. “I can learn about things in class, but in order to truly understand them, I have to go out and witness them,” she said.

In Thailand, Emmanuella Amoako ’27, a Global Health major with a minor in Psychology, is participating in a program that focuses on interconnected human, animal, and environmental health systems.

“Global health examines factors that shape health at the population level,” said Amoako. “Studying in Thailand allows me to see firsthand how environmental conditions, infrastructure, animal-human interactions, and public health systems intersect in a real-world context.”

Valentina Mendoza Cruz ’27, a double major in Environmental Science and Sustainability and Environmental Studies is studying in Himalayan environments and societies in Bhutan.

She is taking courses in land management, mountain ecology, and socioeconomic dimensions of the environment, as well as a language and culture class.

“I am learning a lot of concepts I have encountered at Denison, but within the Himalayan context,” said Mendoza Cruz. “My time here has strengthened my interest in climate, land use, community context, and climate change that will guide my future research and work in climatic processes, environmental problems, and policy.”

During a program located in Copenhagen, Denmark, Julia Pandaleon ’27 studied European clinical psychology. She talked to psychologists from different specialties to learn about Denmark’s and Austria’s mental health systems.

“I intend to take these new ways of thinking and combine them with the skills I learn in the United States to create a more comprehensive approach to mental health,” said Pandaleon, a psychology major, who is minoring in neuroscience.

While their experiences vary widely, each of these Denisonians shares at least one factor in common: they are all Gilman Scholarship recipients.

“Looking back, applying for the Gilman Scholarship was the start of so many things,” Schubert said. “It opened doors I did not even know existed, introduced me to lifelong friends, and shaped the career I have today.”

Denisonians applying for the Gilman Scholarship receive support from both the Lisska Center and the Center for Global Programs.