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Goodrich Scholar An Nguyen Awarded National Study Abroad Scholarship

An Nguyen and fellow recipient of the Gilman Award

Omaha – Goodrich scholar An Nguyen was recently selected from over 850 American undergraduate students from 359 colleges and universities to receive the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs to study or intern abroad during the spring 2017 term.

An Nguyen started as a scholar in the Goodrich Scholarship Program in fall 2013 as a first-generation student after graduating from Burke High School. He moved to the United States from Vietnam in 2011 and immersed himself in academics. He currently serves as a tutor in the Goodrich program where he has also been an active member of GO! (the student organization). An spends significant time in outreach positions volunteering in the community for events with Partnership 4 Kids (P4K) and Education Quest (Know How to Go!). His mentorship and investment is community first. An is working to become a mathematics teacher and is moving towards a Bachelor of Science in mathematics education.

An Nguyen will plan to spend his Gilman semester abroad at the University of Coimbra in Coimbra, Portugal.

"I chose Portugal because it is a non-English speaking country; I have to get out of my comfort zone, and it provides a great environment for me to learn a new language," he explains.

I chose Portugal because it is a non-English speaking country; I have to get out of my comfort zone, and it provides a great environment for me to learn a new language.

 An Nguyen

Gilman scholars receive up to $5,000 to apply towards their study abroad or internship program costs. The program offers grants for U.S. citizen undergraduate students of limited financial means to pursue academic studies or credit-bearing, career-oriented internships abroad. Such international exchange is intended to better prepare U.S. students to thrive in the global economy and interdependent world. Students receiving a Federal Pell Grant from two- and four-year institutions who will be studying abroad or participating in a career-oriented international internship for academic credit are eligible to apply. Scholarship recipients have the opportunity to gain a better understanding of other cultures, countries, languages, and economies—making them better prepared to assume leadership roles within government and the private sector.

The University of Coimbra is a members of the MAUI-Utrecht network, a consortium of mid-American and European universities that support international exchange. The University of Nebraska at Omaha has thriving relationships with universities around the world which facilitate such exchange, allowing students to pay home tuition while attending a partner university.