Jersey City Resident Obiamaka Nnadika Awarded Benjamin Gilman Scholarship to Study at Cambridge University

Nnadika is a junior government major at Hamilton College

Clinton, NY (01/06/2022) — Jersey City resident and Hamilton College junior Obiamaka Nnadika has been awarded a Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for study at Cambridge University this spring. We asked Nnadika to share more about this incredible opportunity.

What drew you to apply to Cambridge University?
I chose Cambridge because it is the best institution that merges my academic passions of political philosophy and international politics. I thoroughly enjoy understanding how political theories and philosophies are applied to different forms of governments and institutions. I wanted to have a deeper understanding of how these theories were used to shape the institutions and governmental structures of different countries, specifically African countries that gained their independence after the Cold War. Cambridge offers the academic courses that satisfy these academic passions, along with the vast library resources to supplement my research.

What will you study there?
I will belong to the Human, Social, and Political Sciences Department. Within the department, I am enrolled in papers that align with my academic interests [History of Political Thought from 1700-1890 and International Relations: International Conflict, Order and Justice]. These will deepen my understanding of different political frameworks and the nuances involved in international relations politics.

What about living in the UK are you most looking forward to?
I look forward to being able to study and interact with students from all across the globe. My American cohort is filled with diverse students from across the country, and Cambridge is considered an academic mecca for scholars and intellectuals from all over the place. I hope to immerse myself in the collaborative living and learning environment that Cambridge offers through its college system. Also, the greater Cambridge area has so many amazing restaurants and attractions to explore.

Were there any mentors who encouraged you to pursue the Gilman?
Early on in my application process to Cambridge, I was introduced to (Hamilton 2018 graduate) Marquis Palmer who studied abroad at Oxford his junior year and is currently a Marshall Scholar studying political theory at SOAS, University of London. Marquis guided me through the application process and answered any concerns I had. Also, [Senior Fellowships Coordinator] Virginia Dosch encouraged me to pursue the Gilman Scholarship and was very helpful throughout the entire process.

Obiamaka Nnadika is a graduate of High Tech High School in Seacaucus

The Gilman Scholarship Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, offers grants up to $5,000 to undergraduates for academic studies or credit-bearing, career-oriented internships abroad. Such international exchange is intended to prepare U.S. students to assume roles in an increasingly global economy and interdependent world.

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