Junior Earns Prestigious Gilman Scholarship

Susquehanna University junior Gabriella Draganova, of Philadelphia, has been named a Gilman Scholar, enabling her to pursue academic studies abroad.

Draganova, a luxury brand marketing and management major, will study business, international marketing, cross-cultural management and Spanish culture at the Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain.

"Spain, along with its neighboring countries like Italy and France, is credited with establishing a great majority of luxury brands such as Loewe and Louis Vuitton. That gives me the amazing chance to visit those headquarters and do a lot of individual learning on my own," Draganova said. "Besides that, I chose Barcelona for their world-renowned international business school and for the opportunity to further work on my Spanish-speaking skills."

Only about 25 percent of semester program applicants receive an award. Susquehanna University has a dedicated program in place to identify and nurture potential scholarship applicants, not only for the Gilman program but other prestigious scholarships as well.

Gilman scholars receive up to $5,000 to apply toward their study abroad or internship program costs. The program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, aims to diversify the students who study and intern abroad and the countries and regions where they go.

Scholarship recipients gain a better understanding of other cultures, countries, languages and economies-making them better prepared to assume leadership roles within government and the private sector.