Autumn Rivera

Autumn Rivera, a sophomore from Dunkirk majoring in Visual Arts and New Media at the State University of New York at Fredonia, has been awarded a Gilman scholarship for her study abroad experience in Lancaster, England.

She will attend a program at the University of Lancaster in Fall 2022.

“I’ve always wanted to experience life in another country and I felt that studying abroad would be the best choice for that,” Rivera said, when asked why she wants to study abroad. “I felt it would allow me to gain a deeper understanding of that country by integrating myself long-term into a system that would allow me to study using their curriculum and to meet people who already live there.”

Why study in England?

“The United Kingdom has always been a place that’s interested me. So much to the point that I’ve always thought about moving there one day. So, studying abroad there had felt like the right choice. I’d like to experience life there long-term to see if it’s right for me and Lancaster University had personally felt quite inviting to me.”

Since 2015, 21 Fredonia students have been awarded more than $70,000 in Gilman scholarships. Nationally competitive Gilman scholarships seek to promote access to study abroad opportunities to students with high financial need.

U.S. citizens who receive the Pell Grant are eligible for up to $5,000 in scholarship money through the prestigious award.