Religion major awarded Gilman Scholarship to study abroad in China

Monday, July 14, 2008

Michael Smith, a sophomore religion major and sociology minor from Tulsa, will soon be studying in Beijing, China thanks to the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, a Congressionally funded program that supports underrepresented students who want to study abroad. Smith will receive up to $8,000 to help pay for study abroad program costs for the 2008–2009 academic year.

Starting in the fall, Smith is studying at the Central University of Nationalities in Beijing through a program sponsored by the Council on International Educational Exchange. He will take courses in Chinese, study the country’s religions and cultures, and take field trips to important religious sites.

"I feel like I should learn about other people’s religions, cultures and traditions in order to develop a respectful relationship where they can learn about my religion and culture too," Smith said.

Smith got his first taste of international travel as a student at Booker T. Washington High School where he studied Chinese for four years. In 2006, he traveled to Tulsa’s sister city Beihai, China through an exchange program at his school. His time there inspired him to return, and he began preparations for an extended stay during his senior year in high school.

"I knew I wanted to go back," Smith said. "But financial matters got in the way and I had to help out my family."

TU proved to be an excellent launching pad for Smith’s international ambitions. Working with the staff at the Center for Global Education (CGE) and with the director of nationally competitive scholarships, he learned about various study abroad scholarships and completed the application that would lead to his Gilman award.

"Michael will be an excellent representative of TU and of the Gilman scholarship program during his stay in China," said Cheryl Matherly, associate dean for global education. "This award does not come easily and recognizes Michael’s academic record, long-standing interest in China, and commitment to sharing his experiences with the Tulsa community."

Matherly said the strong educational ties between Tulsa and its sister cities, such as Beihei, has prepared students like Smith to take advantage of opportunities to study in nontraditional destinations in high school and then college.

"Students like Michael return with a greater understanding of Tulsa’s relationship to other parts of the world," Matherly said. “I am confident that this experience in China will open up personal and professional opportunities for Michael in the future.”

In addition to his experience with the CGE, TU proved to be a good fit for Smith in another way: with 13 percent of students coming from outside the United States, Smith benefited from the rich international community at TU and quickly befriended students from places like Turkey, Saudi Arabia and many African countries.

"I’m very fortunate to have met so many international students and learn from them," Smith said. "I’m glad TU has such an extensive international student body."

When he returns from his semester abroad, Smith will complete his Gilman scholarship with a service project aimed at reaching out to communities with perceived barriers to traveling abroad.

"I hope to tell others about my chance to go to China and the opportunities available to them to develop a better world view," Smith said. "I want to sit down and show them pictures, tell them stories, and through that, show them that they can discover these things too."

At times he chuckles at the fact that he’s really going to China after a year in which his home, family and finances were severely shaken by a harsh ice storm. But he’s figured out his upcoming year in China isn’t about him -- he’s worked too hard and overcome too many obstacles to limit the experience to that.

"It’s all been such a blessing for me after facing a lot of adversity in my life. But this trip isn’t about me; it’s about the people I come into contact with because of it," Smith said. "I thank God for TU and for this adventure I’m about to embark on."

The Gilman Scholarship Program aims to diversify the kinds of students who study abroad and the countries and regions where they go. The program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and administered by the Institute of International Education’s (IIE) Southern Regional Center in Houston, Texas.

The program is named in honor of Congressman Benjamin J. Gilman, who retired in 2002 after serving in the House of Representatives for 30 years and chairing the House Foreign Relations Committee. Since the establishment of the Gilman International Scholarship Program by the International Academic Opportunity Act of 2000, more than 4,200 students nationwide have received this prestigious award.