International scholars

Three Wright State University students received the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to support their study abroad experiences in Japan, Chile and New Zealand. (Photo by Erin Pence)

Exploring the culture of Japan. Teaching second-grade students in Chile. Composing music in New Zealand.

Those are the international study abroad experiences of three Wright State University students selected for the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, a program of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. It has been administered by the Institute of International Education since 2001.

A return trip to Japan

“It’s definitely an honor,” said Gilman Scholar Clayton Persinger. “It’s a very hard scholarship to get. Thousands of people apply for that scholarship every year. To be one of those people to get it means a lot.”

Persinger, a cybersecurity major, spent more than two weeks in Japan as part of an ambassador program. Led by Wright State faculty members, ambassador programs provide an opportunity for students to study abroad for short periods of time.

Persinger’s experience began in Okayama, where he stayed with other students in a guest house owned by the Kake Educational Institution. The students visited a Japanese high school, an Imabari Shipbuilding yard, aquariums, castles and temples. One of the most memorable experiences occurred at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.

“We talked to two Hiroshima survivors, which was very interesting,” said Persinger. “We got to see a building that was in the initial blast, and it’s still standing today.”

This was not Persinger’s first time in Japan. He had been there twice before as part of his four-year-long service in the United States Marine Corps. As a Marine, Persinger spent most of his time in Okinawa, aside from some trips to Tokyo and a climb to Mount Fuji.

The ambassador program gave Persinger the opportunity to experience the Japanese countryside and to meet American students teaching English — something he aspires to do after graduating from Wright State.

He is also interested in earning a computer science degree from a Japanese university.

“I have to be able to read Kanji [Chinese characters used in the writing of Japanese] first, and it’s going to take me a couple of years to be able to read Kanji in order to learn in their classrooms,” he said.

Clayton Persinger spent two weeks in Japan with an ambassador program led by Wright State faculty members. (Photo provided by Clayton Persinger)

Teaching second grade in Chile

For elementary education major and Gilman Scholar Imani Hamilton, an ambassador program to Concepcion, Chile, offered the perfect opportunity to gain hands-on teaching experience while exploring another culture.

Hamilton taught English to second graders, who predominantly speak Spanish in their own dialect. She was surprised to find several cultural differences between schools in the United States and Chile, including students addressing their teachers by their first names.

Students, even as young as kindergarten, change classrooms throughout the day for their various subjects. And there are two recesses for all students, from kindergarten to high school.

“Seeing everyone have recess together was pretty interesting,” said Hamilton. “The students are only monitored in the classroom. They’re not monitored at recess. It’s a gated school, so no one can get out. But they let the students do whatever they want during that time and just roam free.”

Hamilton stayed with a host family during her time in Concepcion.

Imani Hamilton traveled to Chile where she taught English to second grade students. (Photo provided by Imani Hamilton)

“The food was the best thing, because every night they made me something that was a Chilean dish,” she said. “Then I got the opportunity to make them some American dishes like pumpkin pie. They don’t have pancakes or fried apples, so I made them an American breakfast. It was nice to have them cook for me and then eat and cook for them.”

Hamilton hopes to teach abroad again one day and is grateful for the Gilman Scholarship that made her first experience possible.

“I’ve always wanted to teach abroad. To be able to experience that while I’m still in school is a blessing,” she said. “Getting that scholarship and being a representative of both Wright State University and Gilman is an honor and a privilege.”

Next stop: New Zealand

Music major Megan Clarke’s Gilman Scholar experience has not yet begun. She will study at Massey University’s campus in Wellington, New Zealand, for five months starting in February.

Clarke, who wants to work in film music production, looks forward to taking hands-on classes in music composition and production and learning from industry professionals.

“It sounds like such an interesting career choice, and I feel like I would never get tired of it,” said Clarke. “Being able to learn how to do that in a different country would actually help a lot, because their art style is very different compared to here.”

Clarke grew up in Middletown, Ohio, where her love for music was inspired by her father, who plays the guitar.

“I would sit with him and listen to him play. I would join along with him too, because he was also just learning,” she said. “It was kind of a learning experience for both of us.”

Clarke began composing music during her sophomore year of high school.

“I enjoy the process of making music,” she said. “Since then, I’ve kind of found my style that I lean towards, and I want to expand that more to other things as well.”

Clarke plays the clarinet, piano, guitar, oboe, steel drums and ukulele, and she is looking forward to learning about instruments that are unique to New Zealand.

“I’m so excited,” she said. “My parents are very excited about it. They tell absolutely everyone they know.”

Without the Gilman Scholarship, Clarke would not be able to afford to study abroad. Thanks to the scholarship, she is able to explore her dream career and get outside of her comfort zone by leaving the United States for the first time.

“My main worry about studying abroad was the cost. Receiving that scholarship really helped me. My entire trip is almost paid for because of the Gilman Scholarship, and I’m so happy about it,” she said. “I’m so thankful. I made it my mission to explore more, and I’m happy I get the opportunity to do that.”