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Kent State’s commitment to providing transformational education-abroad experiences for students has become even stronger with the addition of more than 20 new scholarships worth $750,000 in total.

“The University understands the importance of education abroad and over the past several years has worked to remove barriers for our students,” said Amber Cruxton, director of education abroad in Kent State's Office of Global Education.

Kent State students in Kigali, Rwanda

One of the new scholarships offered by Kent State’s Office of Global Education is The Gilman Application Incentive Scholarship. It’s designed to encourage students who receive a federal Pell Grant to apply for the , which is worth anywhere from $3,000-$5000 toward a student’s education-abroad program. “It has the potential to be one of our most impactful, new scholarships,” said Desiree Dube, senior advisor, Education Abroad. “The aim of the Incentive Scholarship is for students to have the strongest application possible for the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, and to guarantee at least $2,000 toward their education-abroad program if they meet the eligibility requirements.”

Another scholarship, the Office of Global Education’s Education Abroad General Scholarship was established to help students in need finance their education abroad experience. The award amounts are $500, $1,000, $1,500.

There is also a Project Passport Fund to help students who are in need of financial assistance to obtain a U.S. passport.  

Details and requirements for all currently available education-abroad scholarships can be viewed here.

Kent State students explore a shop in Kigali, Rwanda

Providing Access to the World

Dube said that since the scholarships were launched in late September, advisors have been meeting with students who are eligible to get a significant portion of their education-abroad programs paid for by combining some of the different scholarships that are available. Students with the greatest financial need can get funds to finance nearly all of their program costs.

Kent State’s goal is to provide very accessible funding for students who want to study abroad. “We are excited to offer an expanded list of scholarships to Kent State students,” said Dube. “Whether someone is an undergraduate student, graduate student, U.S. student or international student, with these new offerings, nearly all Kent State students will have at least one scholarship they can apply for.

“There is so much to be gained from having an education-abroad experience." - Molly Papay, assistant director, Education Abroad

Kent State students inside Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris

Committed to Internationalization

The university was recently recognized with a Senator Paul A. Simon Award for Comprehensive Internationalization – the nation’s top prize for excellence in global education. A large part of that recognition comes from Kent State providing immersive, enriching educational experiences through more than 200 programs in more than 60 countries around the world.

“There is so much to be gained from having an education-abroad experience, regardless of one’s academic major or life plans,” said Molly Papay, assistant director, Education Abroad. “Our hope is that this new scholarship funding will make studying abroad – even if it is for just one week – a possibility for all Kent State students who wish to challenge themselves to grow and explore the world.  

Kent State students exploring a street in Florence 

All photos by Bob Christy, senior photography coordinator, University Communications and Marketing