Savannah State University Students Awarded Study Abroad Scholarships
Three students Awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for travel to Ghana
Three Savanah State University (SSU) undergraduate students have been awarded scholarships from the U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program to travel to Amankwakrom in eastern Ghana in summer 2024. The study abroad trip will tackle issues related to poverty, maternal mental health, social and emotional learning, and teen pregnancy.Students Brier Alexander, Taylor Mays and Keya Marie Jest, all social work students, are the recipients of the Gilman scholarship. They will join an additional seven SSU students who will also participate in the study abroad experience. They will be accompanied by Dr. Roenia Deloach, SSU professor of Social Work, and Dr. Catherine Gayle, chair of SSU’s Department of Social Work.
The trip is a collaborative effort with California State University (CSU)/Stanislaus’ Professor Sevaughn Banks, who is traveling with about 10 of her students and other university experts in the fields of medicine, health and social work. Students from the University of Ghana at Legon will also join the teams from SSU and CSU/Stanislaus.
This coming spring, the SSU team will engage in fundraising efforts on campus to be able to purchase feminine hygiene products and other needed supplies to take to Ghana. The study abroad effort falls under the umbrella of the act-global-initiative tagline.
“The Ghana Study Abroad Program incorporates a service-learning instructional methodology that integrates community service with academic instruction as it focuses on critical, reflection thinking and civic responsibility, said Dr. Deloach. “This program involves students in organized community service that addresses the local needs, while developing their academic skills, sense of civic responsibility, and commitment to the community.”
If anyone’s nervous about starting their Overseas Education journey, don’t be! There’s so much support out there for international students, from scholarships to community groups.
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ReplyDeleteWhat a meaningful initiative. The fact that three social work students from Savannah State University received the Gilman Scholarship to travel to Ghana and work on issues like maternal mental health and teen pregnancy shows how powerful study abroad can be when it is tied to genuine community impact rather than just academic credit. The collaborative structure bringing together students from SSU, CSU Stanislaus, and the University of Ghana is exactly the kind of cross-institutional, cross-cultural engagement that produces lasting perspectives.
ReplyDeleteReading this from an Indian education context, it is a useful reminder of how much students gain when they step into unfamiliar environments with a clear purpose. For Indian MBBS students choosing to study abroad, the long-term benefits go well beyond the degree itself. Institutions like Osh State University in Kyrgyzstan, which collaborates with over 325 universities across 33 countries through programs like Erasmus+ and DAAD, offer students a similarly internationally connected academic environment. Compared to many Russian universities, Osh also offers a shorter five-year program and a climate that is considerably more familiar to South Asian students. North Western Education Services supports Indian students specifically through the Osh State University admission process for those who want to explore this option further.
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ReplyDeleteA genuinely inspiring story about how purposeful international study programs can produce real-world impact. The collaboration between Savannah State University, CSU Stanislaus, and the University of Ghana for work on maternal mental health and teen pregnancy reflects what happens when study abroad is designed around meaningful outcomes rather than just credit hours. The Gilman Scholarship recognition also signals how seriously these students approached their international experience.
ReplyDeleteReading this from the perspective of Indian MBBS students considering long-term study abroad, the emphasis on preparation and outcome-orientation resonates strongly. One thing that many Indian students overlook when planning medical education abroad is that career planning should begin before admission, not after graduation. For students considering Osh State Medical University in Kyrgyzstan, understanding the NMC requirements applicable to their admission year, the internship structure, and what licensing pathway they intend to follow after returning to India — all of this needs to be clear before the first semester begins. North Western Education Services provides a career-focused MBBS guide specifically for this university that addresses these questions in detail.
A genuinely inspiring story about purposeful international study programs producing real-world impact. The collaboration between three universities for work on maternal mental health and teen pregnancy in Ghana reflects what international education looks like when it is designed around meaningful outcomes rather than just credit hours. The Gilman Scholarship recognition also signals how seriously these students approached the commitment.
ReplyDeleteFor Indian MBBS students making a similarly serious long-term commitment to studying medicine abroad, that outcome-orientation should begin before admission rather than after graduation. One often-overlooked step is asking Osh state medical university or its admission partners specifically about how the curriculum is structured to support FMGE and NExT preparation alongside the final years of study — since the exam format differs somewhat from what is covered during clinical years in Kyrgyzstan, and starting preparation early makes a noticeable difference. Connecting with current Indian students in their second or third year to understand whether the actual experience matches what they were told during admission is also a practical step that costs nothing but provides real clarity. North Western Education Services can facilitate this kind of informed decision-making for students applying to this university.