Lukasz Sewera, llinois Wesleyan University junior was recently named the recipient of a competitive Benjamin A. Gilman international scholarship. He is one of approximately 1,000 United States students selected annually to receive the prestigious scholarship, which is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State.
The decision was announced by Wesleyan University in July 2009.
A biology major from Norridge, Ill., Sewera will study medical practice and policy with the Danish Institute for Study Abroad (DIS) in Copenhagen, Denmark.
He was also the recipient of an approximately $4,000 scholarship from DIS, one of many scholarships awarded to Illinois Wesleyan students for international study in the coming year.
Sewera is the fourth IWU student to receive the Benjamin A. Gilman scholarship in the last two years. Others who have received the scholarship are Brad Tieche, Celeste Nunez, and Angela Rumsey, all Class of 2009.
Lukasz with his younger siblings: Anita and Michael at O’Hare, before leaving for his Summer scholarship in Germany.
The Gilman scholarship, which awards an average of $4,000 per student, aims to diversify students who study abroad by offering financial support and to promote non-traditional study abroad destinations.
As part of the Gilman scholarship application, Sewera designed a follow-up project to his experience overseas. On the encouragement of International Office Director Stacey Shimizu, he will deliver a presentation in the spring that encourages science and pre-med students to study abroad, despite the perceived restrictions of their majors.
Lukasz has been involved in numerous Community projects in the polish American Community in Chicago area for last several years. Among them he helped in the Breast Forum, organized by Mark Rudnicki, M.D., Ph.D.
During the Summer Lukasz is participating in the scientific research project at University in Essen, Germany. He attends also scientific conferences.
His future goal is to study medicine.
Polish News congratulates Lukasz an award and we wish him good luck in his future career.
Lukasz on a Polish yacht ‘Julianna’ , Lake Michigan, in the Summer of 2007.