Senior receives Gilman scholarship for study abroad in Ecuador

Carl Aldinger, a rising senior majoring in Communication: Video Production and Spanish, has been awarded a national Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, valued at $3,000, to support a study abroad experience in Ecuador during the Spring 2021 semester.

Mr. Aldinger, of Alden, plans to study at Espiritu Santo University, located in Guayaquil, Ecuador’s second largest city and its main port. Tentative plans call for the study abroad experience to begin in mid-January 2121 and continue through the end of April. Aldinger plans to enroll in Spanish language or culture-related courses that will count toward his Spanish major at Fredonia.

“I'm hoping to just absorb and learn as much about the culture there as possible,” said Aldinger, whose only travel outside of the United States has been to Canada. “I'm kind of terrified in a good way because I haven't seen that much of the world, so I know this will be incredibly eye-opening.”

Aldinger, programming director of WNYF-TV, plans to work as a producer or photographer in television news after graduation and ultimately pursue documentary filmmaking. He is a 2017 graduate of Alden High School and a son of Wayne and Cathy Aldinger.

Nineteen students from nine SUNY schools were among 2,500 students awarded Gilman scholarships to participate in credit-bearing study and intern abroad programs. Over 7,000 applications were submitted for consideration.

Since 2015, the U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship program has awarded more than $60,000 to 15 Fredonia students.

Fredonia students interested in applying for a Gilman scholarship are encouraged to contact Erin Willis, assistant director of Study Abroad. Workshop sessions hosted by the Office of International Education will be held during the fall semester to familiarize students with the Gilman scholarship.

Applicants for spring and summer of 2021 are encouraged to attend one of these workshops.