Gilman Scholarship Spotlight: Emma Primes ’25

Emma Primes’ 25, a Communications major and Visual Arts minor at Purchase College, has received the renowned Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. This scholarship will let her realize her long-held dream of studying abroad in France, surrounding herself in the language, culture, and history through film.

At Purchase, Emma has been expanding her skills in communication strategies, advertising, and marketing while also exploring how to tell compelling stories through various artistic mediums. Her passion for both visual arts and communication has shaped her academic journey, and studying abroad will allow her to deepen her understanding of these fields in an international context.

Growing up, Emma was always drawn to French culture and hoped to study the language in high school but ultimately chose Latin to build a strong foundation for learning French later on. Determined to deepen her understanding, she took it upon herself to learn the basics of spoken French on her own. Now, thanks to the Gilman Scholarship, she will be able to progress in her French language abilities through an immersive atmosphere while taking classes in French language and history through film.

Reflecting on the scholarship application process, Emma describes it as “challenging but fulfilling “. She began preparing her application months in advance, certain that the scholarship would offer the financial assistance she needed to make her goal of studying abroad a reality. “I started my application in June and wrote a little every day in between my breaks at work when I could,” she shared. “I kept refining what I wrote up until it was due. My biggest challenge was sticking to the word count while getting all my ideas across. I wanted my application to be as genuine and authentic as possible.” She advises future candidates to also be genuine in their essays: “Write what you feel and write what you know and be honest, because I think that honesty goes a really long way.”

While in France, Emma is most looking forward to experiencing French culture firsthand and applying her knowledge to her artistic and academic endeavors. She aims to incorporate her knowledge of French art into her visual arts work, and thus, expanding her knowledge of international artistic traditions. “I’m eager to see different French art, from paintings and sculptures to architecture. I want to see them in person, learn about the techniques the artists used, and draw inspiration from them—especially in the French Riviera, where so many artists have found their inspiration,” she said. She is also looking forward to visiting the Musée Picasso, taking scenic walks to local markets and cafés, and traveling to neighboring towns and cities.

Looking ahead, she views this opportunity as a stepping stone to future travels and creative endeavors, as well as prospective career pathways that combine her interests in communication, art, and foreign experiences. Beyond the academic and cultural aspects, this opportunity represents something deeply personal for Emma. “Ever since I was little, I wanted to go to France, so it feels full circle that I’m able to study abroad there and start my own travel journey,” she reflected. “I’ve always been fascinated with learning about different cultures, and I hope to someday travel to other places, too.”

Emma is immensely grateful for this opportunity and for the Gilman Scholarship. Her accomplishment exemplifies the amazing options accessible to Purchase College students seeking worldwide education experiences. We congratulate her on this well-deserved award and look forward to seeing how her experience in France will influence her future interests!

Written by:  Jo-Emma Felix ’26