BUFFALO, NY – Aliyya A. Christiani ’13 is the recipient of a competitive Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for 2012-2013. Christiani will receive $4,000 to study for the fall 2012 semester at the University of Oveido, Spain. She is a senior special education (birth- grade 2)/early childhood (birth-grade 2) and Spanish dual major at Canisius University.
While in Oviedo, Christiani will teach English to students at the San Ignacio elementary school, where she volunteered in the summer 2011. “I will learn how to better interact with children from different cultures and backgrounds and learn how to teach children whose first language is not English,” says Christiani. “I plan on using what I learn to make a difference in the lives of many children.”
Upon her return from Spain, Christiani plans to create videos which document her study abroad experience to post on youtube and instruct local elementary students about Spanish language and culture.
The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and provides awards to U.S. undergraduate students, who receive federal Pell Grant funding, so that they may participate in study abroad programs worldwide.
This is the fourth international award for Canisius students and faculty this spring. In addition to Christiani’s Gilman Scholarship, two students were awarded William J. Fulbright Scholarships and a faculty member won a Fulbright Senior Specialist Grant. Christiani is Canisius University’s second Gilman scholar.
Canisius is one of 28 Catholic, Jesuit colleges in the nation and the premier private college in Western New York. Canisius prepares leaders – intelligent, caring, faithful individuals – able to pursue and promote excellence in their professions, their communities and their service to humanity.
Gilman Scholarship Recipient to Study in Spain
June 4, 2012
