Laurentians Receive Prestigious Awards for Off-Campus Study and Research
For years, St. Lawrence has been recognized for its commitment to providing exceptional, immersive off-campus study opportunities which often include research and internship components. These experiences often guide students’ paths after graduation, whether they choose to enter the Peace Corps, pursue careers in foreign policy or international development, or apply for Fulbright awards.
Recent Grads Join Distinguished Group of Laurentian Fulbright Scholars
Three young alumni received Fulbright awards for the 2024-2025 academic year: Kelley Daphness ’23 to study and conduct research in Ireland and Brody Campbell ’23 to serve as an English teaching assistant in Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. Ayesha Khatun ’24 won a Fulbright award to teach English in Thailand but opted to enroll in a graduate degree program at Columbia Teachers College.
All three alums took advantage of opportunities to live and work abroad during their time at St. Lawrence. As an undergrad, Daphness studied in Kenya, where she had worked as a newsroom intern for K24 TV, a major media network based in Nairobi. During the summer of 2023, Khatun interned at the Mirror Foundation, an NGO in Bangkok, Thailand. Campbell spent five months studying in Freiburg, Germany, where he studied at the University of Freiburg. He also served as a teaching assistant in German at St. Lawrence.
These awards bring the total number of Laurentian Fulbright scholars to 16.
Gilman Scholar Awards Exceed National Average
Eight current students were awarded Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarships throughout the 2023-2024 application cycle. Awards ranged from $3,000 to $5,000 totaling $33,500 for St. Lawrence students studying in Kenya, Costa Rica, Australia, Denmark, Thailand, and the United Kingdom.
Gilman Program eligibility is limited to those receiving a Federal Pell Grant at the time of their application or during their study abroad program or internship. The application process itself is highly competitive. Depending on the cycle, the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs awards scholarships to only about 20 to 25% of applicants. According to Assistant Director of Off-Campus Study Kim Longfellow, St. Lawrence’s selection percentage has met or significantly exceeded this amount in recent years.
Over the last several years, the University has greatly increased its number of Gilman Scholars, thanks largely to the support and dedication of the Center for International and Intercultural Studies (CIIS). CIIS has made it a priority to raise awareness of the program and help students navigate every step of the comprehensive application process. Between 2015 and 2022, 15 students were awarded Gilman Scholarships. In the last two application cycles, a total of 23 students received awards.
Three of the 2023-2024 scholars studied abroad in spring 2024, two are currently studying off campus, and the final three will embark on their adventures in the spring of 2025.
