Goodrich Scholar Wins National Award

Clarice Dombeck is one of three UNO students awarded with the Fall 2017 Benjamin Gilman International Scholarship. A Goodrich Scholar in the College of Public Affairs and Community Service (CPACS), Clarice is double-majoring in black studies and sociology, with concentrations in inequality and social justice and African-American studies, the latter of which contributed to her decision to study abroad in South Africa. She will be attending the University of Johannesburg in South Africa in Fall 2017. The university was recently listed in the top 500 universities in the world by the Academic Ranking of World Universities. Her experience there will support her goal of being a difference-maker in the community by consistently working to promote a message of cross-cultural acceptance.

The Gilman Scholarship provides financial support to U.S. students who might not otherwise be able to afford studying abroad. Designed to prepare U.S. students to work and thrive in a global economy, the scholarship emboldens students, helping them become leaders abroad and at home. Furthermore, the program aspires to better prepare students for leadership roles within the private sector and the government. Congressman Gilman, for whom the scholarship is named, said, “Study abroad is a special experience for every student who participates. Living and learning in a vastly different environment of another nation not only exposes our students to alternate views, but also adds an enriching social and cultural experience. It also provides students with the opportunity to return home with a deeper understanding of their place in the world, encouraging them to be a contributor, rather than a spectator in the international community.”

Studying abroad gives Clarice an opportunity to actively engage with the global community, supporting one of the fundamental goals of CPACS. She will return to UNO better equipped to inspire and improve her community.