Senior awarded international scholarship to study in Peru
BLACKSBURG, Va., June 1, 2011 â€" Rosella Aurora Harris of Clinton, Md., a senior double majoring in animal and poultry sciences in Virginia Tech’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and Spanish in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, was awarded a $3,000 Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to study abroad.
(Media-Newswire.com) - BLACKSBURG, Va., June 1, 2011 – Rosella Aurora Harris of Clinton, Md., a senior double majoring in animal and poultry sciences in Virginia Tech’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and Spanish in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, was awarded a $3,000 Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to study abroad. Harris will volunteer on a llama and alpaca farm this summer in Cuzco, Peru.
“I chose Cuzco because I am half Peruvian and it has always been a dream of mine to go and live in the country of my heritage,” said Harris.
The Gilman Scholarship Program offers awards for U.S. undergraduate students who are receiving federal Pell Grant funding to participate in study abroad programs. The program encourages students to choose destinations outside of Western Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
Scholarship applicants were required to submit two essays: one about the impact the study abroad will have on their academic goals, and another describing a follow-on project they plan to do once they return.
Harris will spend the first half of the summer working on a llama and alpaca farm. In addition to helping with the animals, she will assist in the production of textiles made from their wool. This work will fulfill the requirement of a capstone experience for her animal and poultry science degree.
During the second half of the summer, she will be doing a traditional study abroad experience — taking classes, visiting tourist attractions, and living with a host family.
“I am so excited that I have found a way to integrate my two areas of study, and I cannot wait to start what I know will be a wonderful experience,” she said.
The Gilman International Scholarship Program has awarded over 6,000 scholarships since its inception in 2001. It is funded through the International Academic Opportunity Act of 2000 and is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State.
Harris will graduate in December of 2011 and hopes to get a job in international agriculture.
Nationally ranked among the top research institutions of its kind, Virginia Tech’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences focuses on the science and business of living systems through learning, discovery, and engagement. The college’s comprehensive curriculum gives more than 2,400 students in a dozen academic departments a balanced education that ranges from food and fiber production to economics to human health. Students learn from the world’s leading agricultural scientists, who bring the latest science and technology into the classroom.
The College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences at Virginia Tech embraces the arts, humanities, social and human sciences, and education. The college nurtures intellect and spirit, enlightens decision-making, inspires positive change, and improves the quality of life for people of all ages. It is home to the departments of apparel, housing and resource management, communication, educational leadership and policy studies, English, foreign languages and literatures, history, human development, interdisciplinary studies, music, philosophy, political science, ROTC, science and technology in society, sociology, teaching and learning, and theatre arts. Virginia Tech, the most comprehensive university in Virginia, is dedicated to quality, innovation, and results to the commonwealth, the nation, and the world.
Related Content
Published by:
Release Date
This story was released on 2011-06-01. Please make sure to visit the official company or organization web site to learn more about the original release date. See our disclaimer for additional information.