Academic Community Engagement, Center for International Programs
Abigail August '19

Siena Saints Shadane Franklin ’18, Emerald Power ’19, and Gabriella Catena ’20 have been selected to receive the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships for study abroad. This prestigious program allows Siena students the opportunity to study abroad or partake in internships in non-traditional study abroad locations around the world. 

Franklin will be spending her summer in South Africa through Siena’s Global Service Internship program (GSI). GSI is a program through Siena’s Center for Academic Community Engagement (ACE) that offers engaging international community development opportunities for Siena students to travel beyond their familiar surroundings.

Franklin says that the ACE office has allowed her to serve in various leadership roles that has fostered her professional and academic growth. She will be living within the community of Botshabelo during her summer in South Africa while interning at an orphanage with children who are directly or indirectly impacted by the aids epidemic. 

“Now I have the opportunity to take my passion and experience with Bonner abroad and serve from an international perspective”, said Franklin. 

Along with Franklin, Emerald Power will also be spending her summer in South Africa through Siena’s Global Service Internship program. She is a biology major with a certificate in community development. As a Bonner Service Leader, Power is able to combine her love for the sciences with her passion for helping other. 

Gabriella Catena will be spending her summer in Shanghai, China, where she will be interning with the Fashion Institute of Technology. Catena chose to study abroad and intern in Shanghai because of her desire to challenge herself exploring an unfamiliar location, culture, history, and program. After Catena graduates, she hopes to either attend grad school, be apart of a large fashion company, or continue to travel the world. 

“Studying abroad gives an individual an experience like no other. [I will] build new relationships, learn how to adapt to new things, and even learn more about [myself]”, said Catena. 

These lucky Siena Saints are just three of many who have been offered the Gilman scholarships over the past seven years. Since 2011, 34 Siena students have won this prestigious award, totaling $112,000.