Gilman Scholarship recipients share study abroad experiences in Italy and New Zealand
In fall 2024, Salve Regina University students Emily Bernardo ’27 and Lily Luskin ’26 were awarded Gilman Scholarships that would transform their Salve experience by supporting their study abroad. A program of the U.S. Department of State, the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program is a competitive, merit-based scholarship that has been supporting American students studying or interning abroad since 2001.
In January, Luskin began a four-month program studying art history and business at the American University of Rome, Italy. In February, Bernardo, a social work major, started her semester at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand. We caught each of them while they were on the ground in their host countries, immersed in the local cultures.
Emily Bernardo – Inspired by nature in New Zealand
Q: What prompted you to want to study abroad?
A: I’ve always loved traveling as a dual citizen (U.S. and Brazil), so I knew that if I had the opportunity to study abroad, I should definitely take it.
Q: How did you end up in New Zealand?
A: Besides the obvious beauty, nature and the friendly Kiwis, I saw New Zealand and thought, “I might as well go as far as possible.” I mean, why not? I would probably only have the opportunity to study across the globe once in my life, and at one of the top universities in the world, it felt like a no-brainer!
Q: How are you finding your interactions with New Zealanders?
A: They are so nice! I cannot emphasize enough how much hospitality, kindness and generosity I’ve been given so far being here. New Zealanders focus on leisure, being outdoors, family and protecting their environment. It’s a much slower culture.
Q: What has been the most surprising thing about New Zealand/your city/institution so far?
A: This school is huge! It has 25,000 undergraduate students, a medical and dental school and many other schools for master’s and doctorate programs. So, the campus is always bustling with students. Also, I’ve started tutorials, which are something we don’t have at Salve due to our small class sizes. Tutorials are small discussion groups run by a teacher’s assistant (TA) because of the large lecture sizes. It has been super fun!
Q: In addition to your social work studies, are you also engaged with the local community in Dunedin?
A: Sustainability is huge at Salve, and in New Zealand as a whole, so I’ve been loving learning more about their sustainable practices through their social impact studio. My semester has just begun, but I plan to join a program in the social impact studio that serves as a helpline for students who may need someone to talk to, a concept similar to peer mentoring.
Bernardo (right) and friend at a beach in New Zealand.
Q: How do you think you’ll bring your experience back to Salve/Newport and share it with others?
A: So far, I’ve really learned to slow down and enjoy life and all the beautiful things the earth provides. It sounds pretty hippy-dippy, but I think that’s exactly what a lot of Americans need right now. Moments in solitude with gratitude toward the world and our lives seem simple, but it’s hard to do when you’re a busy bee in a busy country. There’s no disconnect between the earth and the people here, and it has shifted the way I think about my health. The healthier our environment is, the healthier we are. It’s simple. They have some sustainability efforts here that I think we could implement at Salve, like composting, a nationwide practice here, or reducing our carbon footprint. The University of Otago will be carbon net zero by 2030, something we should be inspired by.
Q: Was the application process for the Gilman Scholarship or study abroad hard? Did you have support?
A: My study abroad advisor and assistant director of the Center for Global Education and Fellowships, Joe Meringolo, told me about the Gilman Scholarship during my freshman year. I was very eager to go abroad, so I spoke to him many times about scholarships and the whole process. Our study abroad office was so helpful in giving me all the information I needed in advance so I could prepare my essays. Meringolo reviewed my essays, and I went to our writing services too. Everyone at Salve was super helpful in making sure I had a great application.
Lily Luskin: When in Rome…
Q: How did you spend your first day in Rome?
A: My roommate and I attended morning orientation at the American University of Rome and set out to see the city – after cappuccinos and croissants of course. We crossed the Tiber River, the gateway to the city’s heart, and were in awe. The sights – the Roman Forum, the Pantheon and the Colosseum! The food – croissants, pizza and spaghetti – all delicious. And the Italian people, they all seemed so happy. The touristy places were cool, but crowded and difficult to maneuver. The lesser-known places were the hidden gems, and they were often hiding in plain sight, if only more people would slow down. Later that night we went to the Italian premiere of the film, “A Complete Unknown,” which was a great time.
Luskin’s visit to the Fontana della Barcaccia (left) and the Colosseum (right) in Rome, Italy.
Q: Have you adopted anything from Italian culture?
A: Yes – Italians have this saying and embrace it in their day-to-day lives: “il dolce far niente.” It means ‘the sweetness of doing nothing,’ giving your brain a break from the chaos that is often the American way of life. It was refreshing. As I continue my experience, I am working to leave room for relaxation and spontaneous unplanned excursions. I now make plans to allow for the unplanned and leave room for my new Italian life to grow and flourish.
Q: You found yourself, a student from a Catholic university, in Rome at a time when the Pope is experiencing health issues. What has that been like?
A: Everyone here loves the Pope a lot. People are continually checking their phones looking for updates on his condition. I had the opportunity to go to one of the vigils at the Vatican and it was pretty clear that everyone is concerned and praying for his recovery. I was even on the news back in New England, as a local student sharing my experience of these events. That was both exciting and intimidating. It made me realize how historic and special it is to be here in this place, at this time.
Q: How do you think you’ll bring your experience in Rome back to Salve/Newport and share it with others?
A: I am so grateful for the opportunity to study abroad, and I want to pass that learning on to others. I’m committing to use social media to create enthusiasm for the Gilman program and the benefits of study abroad by detailing my experiences on Instagram, LinkedIn and student blogs.
I’d like to present the virtues of study abroad to incoming first-year students through University programs like Salve Compass, work with the Center for Global Education and Fellowships and student government to highlight the Gilman program to all students. It’s also important to reach high school students through things like Salve’s Pathways program. The opportunity to learn about new cultures and proudly represent my own, and doing it as a service to others, is exciting and humbling.
Thinking of studying abroad? Here’s a step-by-step guide from Salve’s Center for Global Education and Fellowships. If you’re interested in applying for a Gilman Scholarship, the next application deadline is Thursday, October 9, 2025. For help, reach out to Salve’s Center for Global Education and Fellowships, studyabroad@salve.edu.
Editor’s note: Bernardo and Luskin have both received their full Gilman scholarships and were not impacted by recent federal funding freezes.
