Wildcat selected for therapy abroad program with Gilman Scholarship
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 23, 2023) — Communication sciences and disorders senior Sarah Bolton recently returned from her education abroad experience awarded through the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships. The scholarship allowed the Corbin, Kentucky, native to participate in a therapy program in Belize.
“This Therapy Abroad trip opened my eyes to how speech-language pathologists and audiologists are an option in the U.S. whereas compared to other countries it’s a privilege,” Bolton said. “Many countries do not have the resources to give children the therapy they crucially need. This trip gave me the opportunity to help and understand those of another culture than what I grew up in.”
The Gilman Scholarship supports students who have been traditionally underrepresented in study abroad, including but not limited to, students with high financial need, community college students, students in under-represented fields such as the sciences and engineering, students with diverse ethnic backgrounds and students with disabilities. Award recipients are chosen by a competitive selection process and must use the award — ranging from $100 to $5,000 — to defray the cost of tuition, room and board, books, local transportation, insurance and international airfare.
The congressionally funded scholarship is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State and administered by the Institute of International Education.
Bolton, the daughter of Peggy Bolton and Kevin Bolton, selected her major of communication sciences and disorders because of an emotional attachment.
“I want to make an impact on someone’s life, no matter how small, just as I’ve seen others do in therapy settings,” said Bolton, who credits College of Health Sciences faculty Aimee Sayre and Anne Olson as being influential in her success.
After commencement, Bolton plans to pursue graduate studies in speech pathology and audiology.
Applications for the next round of Gilman Scholarships are being taken now. If you are interested in applying, contact the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards before the March 9 deadline.
About the UK Office of Nationally Competitive Awards
The UK Office of Nationally Competitive Awards assists current undergraduate and graduate students and recent alumni in applying for external fellowships scholarships funded by sources (such as a nongovernment foundation or government agency) outside the university. These major awards honor exceptional students across the nation. Students who are interested in these opportunities are encouraged to begin work with the office's director, Pat Whitlow, well in advance of the scholarship deadline.
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