Coggin College student featured in Study Abroad program

Traveling to other countries and immersing oneself in different cultures is a great way to gain knowledge and learn about the world.    

University of North Florida Coggin College of Business student Damien Jackson had the opportunity to experience this first hand as national Gilman Scholarship recipients. Jackson received the scholarship for the October 2023 application cycle, allowing him to study abroad.   

The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program gives students from around the country opportunities to study abroad. Its mission is to develop a generation of future American leaders who represent the rich diversity of the nation. According to its website, the much sought after Gilman Scholarship is quite competitive, with only 1 in 4 applicants being selected each year for the scholarship.

An honors student, Jackson is a junior majoring in financial planning at the Coggin College of Business. During spring break, the Jacksonville native and first-generation college student attended the European Business School in Paris (EBS Paris) with Coggin College of Business faculty and students to learn about various subjects from corporate payouts to fintech innovations.  

Jackson hopes to become a financial planner to help those with limited resources gain financial knowledge.  

“It’s a huge opportunity to learn and to use this experience to help myself, my family and future generations,” said Jackson. “Having a scholarship like the Gilman helps immensely.”