Want to Study in Italy or Spain Next Summer? Here's How

UNT Dallas senior Pricila Fuentes may be the baby of the family, but she sure adulted a lot over the summer. Fuentes, a Communication & Digital Media major, spent four weeks in Italy as part of the university’s Study Abroad Program. “It was the opportunity of a lifetime,” Fuentes said.

As the youngest of 10 children and the first person in her family to go to college, Fuentes is the definition of a Trailblazer: curious and adventurous. She and classmate, Kenny Rosillo, a senior majoring in Applied Sciences, traveled together from Dallas to Rome in May 2025, but did not know each other before they participated in the program. “It was a great opportunity to experience a new world and culture,” said Rosillo. It was also an opportunity to form a new friendship.

Many students think that foreign travel as part of their college curriculum is impossible. But Fuentes and Rosillo proved it is possible. Using determination, persistence and creativity, each forged their own path to reach their destination. “It was expensive, but the scholarship made it affordable,” said Fuentes.

She received $3,000 from the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, which supports outstanding undergraduate students with high financial need (Pell Grant recipients) to pursue academic study or internships abroad. Fuentas used a portion of her financial aid package to pay the rest of the expenses. Rosillo also used financial aid, along with funds from a student loan, to help pay for the program.

Applications for the Gilman Program are currently open for study abroad next summer. The deadline to apply is Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. The university is holding information sessions to assist students interested in applying. They will be held in Founders Hall, Room 208, on:

• Tuesday, Sept. 16, 10:30 a.m.
• Monday, Sept. 22, 12 p.m.

If you apply by Oct. 3 and do not receive a scholarship, you may reapply next semester with a March deadline. Since 2001, 44,000 students have traveled to 170 countries through Gilman scholarships. Don’t wait – apply now! Other scholarships for students who want to study abroad are also available, including the Fund for Education Abroad. Workshops for interested students will be held in Founders Hall, Room 208, on:

• Tuesday, Oct. 14, 11 a.m.
• Thursday, Oct. 24, 12 p.m.
• Wednesday, Oct. 29, 1 p.m.
• Monday, Nov. 15, 11:30 a.m.
• Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2 p.m.

In January, the first study abroad program led by a UNT Dallas faculty member will bring Criminal Justice students to Vancouver, Canada. Summer 2026 destinations include Barcelona and Rome.

While they come from different families, study different subjects, and used different payment strategies for their Rome program, Fuentes and Rosillo have a lot in common, including mothers who worried while they were gone. “We FaceTimed and messaged on WhatsApp all the time,” said Fuentes, to calm her mother’s concerns. “We communicated every day,” said Rosillo, assuring his mother he was safe and enjoying excursions in and around Rome.

Those excursions served as impactful learning experiences and unique teachable moments for both students. In addition to spending 4-5 hours a day in class, Fuentes and Rosillo were free to explore independently and in groups, accompanied by chaperones and tour guides. For her, the most fun was renting a boat and jumping into the Tyrrhenian Sea off the Island of Capri. And, her side trip to Paris for a weekend. For him, it was visiting an amazing waterfall he found on TikTok – the largest man-made waterfall in the world and a major tourist attraction. 

And there were many other memorable and surprising sights and sounds. “I saw the Pope riding in a car (the Popemobile),” said Fuentes. She also recalled the historic monuments still standing at the Colosseum. “It was crazy.” Rosillo noted the warn yet wonderful old buildings, too. “The architecture is so historic, especially the basilicas,” he said.

Both students learned lifelong lessons and want to travel to more places around the world. They have advice for other students thinking about studying outside the U.S. “Be open to new experiences,” Fuentes said. “Get out of your comfort zone, it gives you confidence,” said Rosillo. Both did exactly that – and as a result, they have become friends on and off campus.

Now back in Dallas, Fuentes and Rosillo are focused on a successful senior year and looking forward to graduating in May 2026. The knowledge and skills they acquired this summer will be useful when applying for jobs. Employers seek candidates who are critical thinkers, effective communicators, and able to adapt to quickly evolving workplaces.

“I opened myself up,” Rosillo said. “I am more comfortable going somewhere new. I’m not scared.” That’s the attitude – and mindset – that will serve him and Fuentas well as they pursue their UNT Dallas degree and their dreams.