Ciao e benevenuto! (Hello and welcome). My name is Ellie Lovas, and I will be studying abroad for three months this spring in Vicenza, Italy. Usually I am based in Oregon. I grew up in a small town near Salem and now attend the University of Oregon, where I study architecture. In my classes I learn about important historical and modern buildings, how buildings get built and designed, and get to design my own buildings. Right now I am designing a hypothetical (not real) market hall and culinary school in Portland, OR. When I'm not in class I enjoy reading, painting, cooking/baking, and going camping.
When I first started college I knew I wanted to study abroad, and set my sights on making that goal a reality. Luckily, my school has a program in Italy for architecture students! Italy is a special place to study architecture, due to the long history and cultural importance behind Italian architecture. It's also a place of importance to me, as I have had family members live in Italy and speak fondly of the people, places and culture, leading me to dream of one day visiting it for myself.
Thanks to the Gilman Scholarship, I was able to make my dream a reality and will be setting out for Italy in April. I can't wait to meet new people, try new foods, and learn about a new culture. And of course, I look forward to visiting the iconic buildings I've learned about in my classes, such as the Colosseum and the Pantheon. I can't wait to start my journey and take you along with me to Italy!
Want to know more about how you can study or intern abroad when you are a college student? The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by the Institute of International Education (IIE). Learn more about the scholarship by visiting www.gilmanscholarship.org.
