ISSUED: 2 March 2022
MEDIA CONTACT: Dana Costa
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV — Two Shepherd University students have been awarded U.S. Department of State Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships to study abroad. Joanna Hernandez, a political science major from Kearneysville, and Peter Proctor, a global studies major from Huntington, were each chosen to receive scholarships.
Hernandez, who said she is honored and excited about the scholarship, plans to use her $4,000 award to study in Spain for two months this coming summer.
“I’ve always wanted to go to Spain ever since I was a little kid, so this is a really good chance for me to do that,” Hernandez said. “I am going to be doing a month of intensive Spanish classes. I am a native speaker, but I feel a little bit of disconnect from my Spanish to my parents or even my family members’ Spanish because I don’t know the grammar rules well.”
During her second month in Spain, Hernandez will perform humanitarian work with the Red Cross. Hernandez feels being able to spend time in Spain will greatly benefit her as she pursues a career after she graduates from college.
“My plan is to go to law school and use that Spanish to become an immigration lawyer to help people like my parents get through the immigration process,” she said.
Proctor is studying abroad this semester in Salzburg, Austria.
“I am studying German and political science at Salzburg College for three months until the last day of April,” said Proctor, who is honored to be offered a Gilman scholarship even though he was unable to use it during this trip because of state department policy regarding COVID-19. Nevertheless, Proctor said his experience in Austria so far has been good.
“I am having a lovely time,” said Proctor, who will graduate from Shepherd in May. “I plan to either come back to Austria as a Fulbright scholar (I am waiting to find out) or go to grad school here in Austria to study political science and foreign language—similar to what I did at Shepherd.”
Opportunities to apply for scholarships such as the Gilman are made possible through the Paul and Lisa Welch Distinguished Awards Program at Shepherd. The program was established to provide targeted assistance to Shepherd students and faculty preparing for competitive prestigious scholarships, fellowships, and award programs such as Gilman, Fulbright, Rhodes, and MacArthur. For more information, contact Dr. Samuel Greene, assistant professor of political science and director of study abroad, at sgreene@shepherd.edu.
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