Melody Beiler of Mill Hall, an LHU sophomore, has received a Benajmin A. Gilman International Scholarship to study abroad.

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - Lock Haven University sophomore Melody Beiler has been awarded a Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship in the amount of $5000. Beiler, a sophomore from Mill Hall, Pa., was notified of her award on December 5. She will attend the Institute for Language and Communication Studies in Rabat, Morocco, where she will study Arabic language and culture.

The Gilman International Scholarship Program is sponsored by the by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and is administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE). In offering grants for U.S. undergraduates to study abroad, the program seeks “to prepare students to assume significant roles in an increasingly global economy and interdependent world.”

Gilman award recipients are chosen by a competitive selection process. During the spring 2008 application cycle, the Gilman Scholarship Program received 1,465 applications for 600 possible awards. According to Rosanna Campbell, assistant director of international studies, Beiler is the fifth LHU student to receive a prestigious study aboard award since 2006. “We are happy to see our continued successful record in this program,” Campbell said.

Beiler will be in Morocco from the end of January until the first of June. She described the scholarship award as “a dream come true for me.” She added, “I’ve always wanted to see and experience as much of the world as possible, but didn’t think I would ever be able to.” To prepare for her study abroad, she has “picked up a few books” to familiarize herself with Arabic and Morocco.

Beiler is majoring in social work and is planning for a career helping adolescents or children. She currently works part time at the Lock Haven Day Care. She is the daughter of Daniel and Priscilla Beiler.

Further information about the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program is available at www.iie.org/programs/gilman.