For release: January 10, 2013
For press information, contact Gabrielle Maxey, , 901-678-2843

Three University of Memphis students have received the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for foreign study.

Yves Mai Orsino, a senior majoring in political science, will study at Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco.  Dania Helou, a senior majoring in international studies, also will attend at Al Akhawayn University.  Loi Ta, a senior majoring in biology, will study Chinese language through the Alliance for Global Education’s program at Fudan University in Shanghai, China.

Mai is the daughter of Dave and Laurie Morris of Memphis.  Dania, originally from East Jerusalem, is the daughter of Ali and Hanan Helou of Germantown.  Loi, a native of Vietnam, is the son of Hue Ta and Huong Luc of Memphis.

“In an increasingly global world, it is important for our students to have an international experience before graduating from college,” said Rebecca Laumann, U of M Study Abroad director. “Studying internationally is not only a rewarding and life-changing opportunity, it also provides students with excellent multicultural skills, an ability to examine issues from a global perspective, fluency in a language, and experiences that may be the highlight of their college career.”

The Gilman program encourages students to choose non-traditional study destinations, especially those outside of Western Europe, Australia and New Zealand. The program supports students who may be unlikely to study abroad, including those with financial need, community college students, those in underrepresented fields such as the sciences and engineering, students with diverse ethnic backgrounds, and those with disabilities.

Recipients are chosen by a competitive selection process and must use the award to pay for eligible study abroad costs. Those costs include program tuition, room and board, books, local transportation, insurance and international airfare.