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Natalie Haddad studies comparative anatomy.

Five Students Receive Gilman Awards for Study Abroad

Knox support programs intersect to help students earn scholarships for international education

"McNair, the study abroad office, and my academic advisor all helped play a role in my study abroad application."—Natalie Haddad '19

by Tricia Duke '19

Natalie Haddad '19 is preparing for a fall term in Australian rainforests, thanks to cooperating academic and financial resources available to Knox students.

Haddad was one of five Knox students who received a competitive Benjamin Gilman International Scholarship during the 2017-18 academic year. Haddad, a biology major and scholar with the McNair program for graduate school preparation, attributed her success to both her own experience and the many helpful people she has met along the way.  

"McNair, the study abroad office, and my academic advisor all helped play a role in my study abroad application," she said.

Haddad participates in the TRIO program at Knox, a program that helps support first-generation and income-eligible college students with financial, academic, and social resources. She said that when she believed study abroad would not be possible, the TRIO office worked with other Knox offices to help her rearrange her schedule and find scholarships, including the Gilman.

The Gilman scholarship, sponsored by the U.S. Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, helps offset the costs of international education. According to the Gilman Foundation, scholarships are awarded to students who demonstrate strong academic ability, financial need, and a passion for their chosen program.

Knox students received Gilmans for travel to five countries: Morocco, Spain, Japan, France, and Australia. In the last five years, 27 Knox students have received Gilman awards.

Haddad also mentioned the influence of her McNair project on her selection and acceptance to the program in Australia. The McNair program, a branch of TRIO, provides students from underrepresented backgrounds with research experience and preparation for graduate school.

During Haddad's McNair research project, she studied the possible uses of arrowroot in the treatment of canine cancer. She expects that work to prepare her for the experience she will have with animals in the Rainforest, Reef, and Cultural Ecology program abroad in Australia.

"Conservation is something that I am interested in because I love wildlife and exotic animals," Haddad said. "I will be learning about fieldwork in biology and conservation efforts for wildlife."

2018 Gilman recipients

  • Leah Rhymer, Morocco
  • Navid Lalji, Spain
  • Natalie Haddad, Australia
  • Walter Wood, France
  • Gabriella Stocksdale, Japan

Published on July 27, 2018