Three Nazareth students earn Gilman Scholarships to study abroad
Three Nazareth students will broaden their cultural understanding through international experiences as they prepare for careers in nursing and musical theatre. Their study abroad is supported by a Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship from the U.S. Department of State.
Gillian Harris-Swem received a Gilman scholarship for her fall semester in the United Kingdom. She is a rising junior musical theatre major participating in the fall immersion semester program, where she will take classes at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, and in London’s theatre district — the West End. She is looking forward to getting more real-life musical theatre experience.
“Most of our West End classes will be audition-based, which I know will be incredibly helpful as I prepare to enter the industry,” said Harris-Swem. I know that being away from school will also challenge me and teach me more of what life will be like when I graduate.”
Emma Wood, also a nursing student, received a Gilman scholarship for her summer program in Greece. She is taking an Aegean Art and Culture course through Nazareth’s art history program and traveling to destinations including Athens, Delphi, Meteora, and Thessaloniki to experience museums, monasteries, and monuments. She is also taking Greek language and Greek dancing classes. She knows her experiences abroad will help her in her career.
“As a nurse, I will care for people from all different cultural backgrounds,” said Wood. “This trip will give me first-hand experience interacting with people from different cultures and backgrounds. I hope this will help me build communication skills and knowledge to be the best, culturally-competent nurse for my future patients.”
Kristen McFarlane, a fourth-year student majoring in nursing and public health, will use her Gilman scholarship for her fall semester in Finland at Laurea University. Kristen will spend a year abroad in total and is already in Finland working on a dual-university-degree program for nursing.
“I look forward to experiencing a different country’s approach to health care, taking anything I learn with me into my nursing approach,” said McFarlane. “I believe I’ll gain a greater perspective that will only improve the way I care for my patients in the future.”
The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program supports students to study or intern abroad to gain skills critical to U.S. national security and economic prosperity. The Gilman program supports American students to gain proficiency in a variety of languages and cultures, skills that are important to their academic and career development.
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Our broad academic offerings present a range of study options typical of larger universities, yet achieved in our supportive campus culture. Nearly 2,100 undergrad and 600 graduate students enroll in degree and certificate programs and engage in collaborative, transformative learning experiences, preparing for the professions and society of today and tomorrow. In a learning community that purposefully integrates liberal arts and professional programs, Nazareth University graduates are able to launch a lifetime of impactful leadership in communities and workplaces near and far.
Nazareth's new Gilman scholars left to right: Gillian Harris-Swem is headed to London, Emma Wood is spending part of the summer in Greece, and Kristen McFarlane is earning a dual degree in nursing in Finland.