Aurelia Mendez-Ortega '28 received the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship which will support her internship work on AI training programs in South Korea.
Why did you choose to apply for this award?
Entering my sophomore year I knew I wanted to study abroad, and after evaluating my program options, I determined that an internship based summer abroad experience would be best for me. A previous award recipient shared this scholarship opportunity with me and I knew that it would both fund my time abroad and encourage me to help others in the Oxy community go abroad through the required Follow-on Service Project.
Briefly describe the work you will be doing on your fellowship.
I will be interning with a company that designs and operates tailored AI training programs for universities, public institutions, and local governments. I will be prototyping AI‑powered tools such as chatbots, recommendation engines, and automated report generators, as well as documenting technical specifications and contributing to the internal knowledge base to support future product development and iteration.
What are you most looking forward to during your time as a fellow?
I am most looking forward to working in another country and interacting with the people! I want to learn more about the values and community that shape and contribute to their society. I am also excited to learn more about technological infrastructure and public systems (such as public transportation) in another country, and how they compare to those of the U.S.
How have your experiences at Oxy prepared you to apply for this award?
At Oxy, my computer science classes have consisted of both technical skills and ethical considerations that challenge students to question our role in the field and how we choose to interact with it. This has helped me shape my career goals, remain open minded, and step out of my comfort zone to appreciate the range of perspectives I am able to learn from, while sharing my own. I believe that I was able to craft a strong application with these values as my foundation. I am confident that I will be able to draw on my experiences at Oxy to help me develop a deeper understanding of another culture and grow in a professional, personal, and academic manner while abroad.
What advice would you give future applicants about the application process?
Be confident in your mission and goals, but acknowledge that you still have room to grow. If you don't have a mission or long-term goals, it can be helpful to reflect on what you want to achieve and how, whether that be by writing ideas down or talking with a friend. I think writing about your passions and what you want to explore makes the application process a lot more authentic and easier to complete. Going to the Writing Center and International Programs Office helps as well, especially to make sure you're structuring your essays in a professional manner while being yourself.