Jonathan Miles Smith, a recent returnee from Egypt, gave a presentation concerning his study abroad on Wednesday, January 20.
Smith, a senior in English, also minoring in Spanish, from Utah, said, “I applied [to this study abroad] because I honestly felt like it was the right thing to do.”
Smith received the Benjamin A. Gilman scholarship which, ironically, he first discovered while doing a survey for the NSEP [Boren] scholarship—which he did not receive.
As part of the Benjamin A. Gilman scholarship requirements, Smith’s presentation was to ultimately help others be aware of their educational options and how it can be individually tailored. Students learned the process of applying for such scholarships and utilizing government spending effectively.
During the process of his presentation, Smith also discussed his desire to be open to a new culture and language, post-Spanish. He went to Egypt to study Arabic.
Some of his notable experiences included hiking Mount Sinai, traveling Jordan, Alexandria, and experiencing the Dead Sea, Petra, Luxor, and Aswan. In the latter two locations, he was able to see the Valley of the Kings and many ancient ruins. He even managed to meet Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
For those interested in obtaining similar scholarships, Smith recommended the following websites: www.iie.org/gilman, www.borenawards.org, and www.clscholarship.org.
--Photo courtesy of Jonathan Miles Smith