UAB economics sophomore Diego Delany has been awarded the 2021 Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship opens a new website, a prestigious scholarship that provides funds for students to study abroad while in college.
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs opens a new website (ECA), the Gilman Scholarship awards up to $5,000 to offset the costs of studying abroad. Delany joins seven other UAB students opens a new website selected for the scholarship - the largest cohort of UAB recipients in a single application cycle and the most recipients from a single institution in Alabama.
Delany will use his scholarship to study in Auckland, New Zealand at the University of Auckland. As an economics major with a concentration in philosophy and politics, he wants to gain a better understanding of the commonalities - and differences - of the political systems within the U.S. and New Zealand.
"I want to see the ins and outs of the political system in an entirely different country," he says. "I'd start by visiting the Auckland War Memorial Museum, which goes into the history of New Zealand far beyond just its military endeavors."
He also wants to learn more about New Zealand's proactive approach to tackling the COVID-19 pandemic.
"What is the difference in the political spheres in the United States versus the one in New Zealand that allowed them to handle the Coronavirus so well compared to ours?"
A native of Huntsville, Delany credits visiting his mother's family in Puerto Rico with instilling a love of travel for him. "I loved being in a totally different place than my day to day," he says, "and although I don't speak Spanish, I always felt comfortable exploring Puerto Rico and engaging with my extended family and their friends."
Delany's visits to Puerto Rico also kindled a love of island culture. In addition to learning more about New Zealand's political system, he is excited to experience the culture of the island country.
"I've been fascinated by the diverse and beautiful landscape and even the plethora of sheep that inhabit the island," he says. "Traveling halfway around the world where the culture is almost completely different and away from all that is familiar to me would be one of the highlights of my college career."
Delany hopes that traveling to New Zealand will provide him an appreciation of international culture and a competitive edge in his future career in economics. As an honors student and portfolio manager of the utilities sector of the UAB Green and Gold Fund opens a new website, Delany wants to marry the skills he's learning at UAB with the education he'll receive abroad.
Before submitting his application, Delany worked closely with the UAB Office of Education Abroad opens a new website to prepare for the Gilman Scholarship. Together, they revised Delany's essay and identified places of interest for him to visit while studying abroad – including Auckland Town Hall and the Waitomo Glowworm Caves.
"The [staff] helped me work through my materials so I felt competitive submitting my application," Delany says. He believes their help was instrumental in his acceptance as a Gilman Scholar.
As he prepares to travel to New Zealand in 2022, Delany plans to maintain a 4.0 GPA and serve as RA for the McMahon Hall.
"One of my goals has been to travel and leave behind the world I've known for so long," he says. "I don't feel any hesitation or anxiety when I think about leaving because I know I am going to love the experience."