Lillian “Lilly” Gonzalez believes traveling overseas has opened up a whole new world for her and ultimately helps open more doors for students in their career fields.

Now the Alamo Colleges International Study Abroad student wants to share her knowledge about travel opportunities with other students. As the recipient of two travel scholarships, Gonzalez had $4,500 of her trip expenses covered.

“A lot of students don’t travel. They don’t take that opportunity. But there are scholarships that cover the cost of travel. I want them to know about those scholarships,” Gonzalez said. “Both of these scholarships gave me the opportunity to expand my classroom, see the world and experience different cultures. Program expenses are one of the main reasons that students do not apply. However, there are many scholarships that are available to cut the expense and make study abroad possible.”

In May, Gonzalez, a student at Alamo Colleges Central Texas Technology Center, became one of more than 1,000 American undergraduate students from 358 colleges and universities across the U.S. to receive the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, according to a press release. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the scholarship allowed Gonzalez to study Spanish and speech in Salamanca, Spain, and the surrounding area during the month of June. She also received an Alamo College International Study Abroad Scholarship.

Congressman Gilman, who retired in 2002 after serving in the House of Representatives for 30 years and chairing the House Foreign Relations Committee, commented in a press release: “Study abroad is a special experience for every student who participates. Living and learning in a vastly different environment of another nation not only exposes our students to alternate views, but also adds an enriching social and cultural experience. It also provides our students with the opportunity to return home with a deeper understanding of their place in the world, encouraging them to be a contributor, rather than a spectator, in the international community.”

Gonzalez agreed.

“It gives you an international perspective. You see what other cultures are like. You can draw on that and use those experiences to become a better worker,” she said.

Gonzalez was with a group of 11 students who visited several areas of Spain, including Salamanca, Segovia, Avila, Madrid, Toledo, Bilbao and Valencia. They also traveled to Lisbon, Portugal.

Gonzalez traveled to Spain on June 2 and returned to New Braunfels on July 3. It was her first trip overseas.

“The best part of the experience was that the classroom was never really in the classroom. We visited several different buildings and places, and the instructor would always give us the history of those buildings,” Gonzalez said.

The student visited the Prado Museum of Modern Art in Madrid, the Roman aqueducts, the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao and several cathedrals, among many other sights.

“The study abroad program gave me many wonderful memories, friendships, and the international perspective all while earning college credits,” Gonzalez said. “My hopes are to inspire students to take the initiative, apply for these wonderful scholarships, and consider one of the many great programs that Alamo Colleges has to offer.”

 Gonzalez, a 2005 graduate of New Braunfels High School, is currently a sophomore attending classes through Alamo Colleges at the Central Texas Technology Center in New Braunfels.

“I am working toward an associate degree in nursing and made the decision to apply to the International Study Abroad Program,” Gonzalez said.

She works as a CNA (certified nursing assistant) at Resolute Health.

文章引用來自: http://herald-zeitung.com/news/article_5abdd418-0efc-11e4-ad47-0019bb2963f4.html