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Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship

Javier Zarazua

2023 Gilman Alumni Changemaker Grant Recipients Announced

December 14, 2023 – The Gilman Program is pleased to announce the inaugural recipients of the Gilman Changemaker Award. Funded by IIE’s Board of Trustees, recipients of the Changemaker Award received grants of up to $10,000. These small grants enable Gilman alumni to positively impact their local communities in the United States.  Through their projects, the Gilman Changemakers will be addressing critical issues such as environmental protection, global health, community building, economic development, and the protection of democratic institutions.

There are six recipients of the inaugural 2023 Gilman Alumni Changemaker Grant including one team of two alumni.  The recipients are:

  • William Blakey, Gilman Scholar to Peru
  • Jade Fong, Gilman Scholar to South Korea
  • Chelsea Hanway, Gilman Scholar to Ireland and Northern Ireland
  • Fatima Kouyate, Gilman Scholar to Israel
  • Nataly Morales, Gilman Scholar to Peru and Melissa Silva, Gilman Scholar to Spain (team project)
  • Chou Moua, Gilman Scholar to China

We congratulate the 2023 recipients and look forward to their future success!

Award Notifications Issued for Gilman Program October 2023 Deadline

December 6, 2023 – The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) announced that it has awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to approximately 1,700 American undergraduate students from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico who applied in the October 2023 cycle. It includes recipients of the John McCain International Scholarship for the Children of Military Families (Gilman-McCain Scholarship), which are awarded to the children and spousal dependents of U.S. military personnel who are active or activated during the application period. Additionally, there are 90 recipients of the Critical Need Language Award and 50 of the new STEM Supplemental Award which supports selected Gilman scholars to conduct STEM-related research abroad as part of their overseas program. Gilman scholars receive support from the governments of Germany, through the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), France, New Zealand, Israel and Wales, as well as the Luso-American Development Foundation (FLAD) in Portugal and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO).

Read the full press release here.

Student Stories: Tiffany Pogue, Gilman Program Recipient “Spilling the Tea on Travel” (STTOT)

March 31, 2023 – Tune in to the University of South Alabama’s (USA), Office of International Education and Study Abroad podcast, Spilling the Tea on Travel (STTOT). A USA senior, Ms. Tiffany Pogue shares how she received the nationally competitive Benjamin A. Gilman scholarship–to support her travel abroad. Dr. Bri Ard, USA’s Executive Director of Global Engagement, also joined and shared creative tips about where students should look for money to fund their travel experiences.

Listen to the episode here

Student Stories: Nicholas Tracy (COL ’24), Benjamin Gilman Scholarship Award Recipient

March 2, 2023 – From the article: “…the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) awarded nearly 1,500 American undergraduate students the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. Gilman Scholars are United States undergraduate students who qualify and receive Pell Grants to cover the costs of their higher education. This year, one of our very own Hoyas, Nicholas Tracy received the Benjamin Gilman Scholarship Award. He is currently a junior majoring in Government and minoring in Film & Media Studies at the Georgetown College of Arts & Sciences…”

Read the full article here

Award Notifications Issued for Gilman Program October 2022 Deadline

December 8, 2022 – The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program awarded nearly 1,500 outstanding and diverse U.S. undergraduate students with scholarships to participate in study abroad programs in more than 80 countries worldwide. The recipients of this prestigious scholarship are American undergraduate students attending 452 U.S. colleges and represent 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The Gilman Program broadens the student population that studies and interns abroad by supporting undergraduates who might not otherwise participate due to financial constraints. This group includes 23 recipients of the John McCain International Scholarship for the Children of Military Families (Gilman-McCain Scholarship), as well as Gilman Scholars supported by the governments of France, Germany through the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), Israel, New Zealand, and Wales, and the Luso-American Development Foundation (FLAD) in Portugal, and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO).

Read the full press release here.

Gilman Alumni Among 2022 U.S. Fulbright Student Program Winners

The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program is proud to announce that 51 Gilman Alumni have been selected for the 2022 U.S. Fulbright Student Program.   

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program expands perspectives through academic and professional advancement and cross-cultural dialogue. Fulbright creates connections in a complex and changing world. In partnership with more than 140 countries worldwide, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers unparalleled opportunities in all academic disciplines to passionate and accomplished graduating college seniors, graduate students, and young professionals from all backgrounds. Program participants pursue graduate study, conduct research, or teach English abroad. Below are the selected Gilman alumni and their type of Fulbright award. 

Isabela  Acenas  Study/Research Award 
Karla  Aguilar  Study/Research Award 
Zeytun  Ahmed  English Teaching Assistant Award 
Forough  Askarirad  English Teaching Assistant Award 
Angelica  Beltran Franco  Study/Research Award 
Tomicia Marie  Blunt  Study/Research Award 
Alberta  Born-Weiss  English Teaching Assistant Award 
Kristina  Brandveen  Study/Research Award 
Yoko  Chavez  English Teaching Assistant Award 
Alena  Coleman  English Teaching Assistant Award 
Naeemah  Davis  English Teaching Assistant Award 
Jada  Downing  English Teaching Assistant Award 
Perla  Echeverria  English Teaching Assistant Award 
Trevor  Engel  Study/Research Award 
Jose  Esquer  English Teaching Assistant Award 
Aiman  Ghani  English Teaching Assistant Award 
Neely  Griggs  Study/Research Award 
Quratulain  Gulamhussein  Study/Research Award 
Ashly  Huerta  English Teaching Assistant Award 
Adam  Isaacks  English Teaching Assistant Award 
Tasfia  Jahangir  Study/Research Award 
Kaylah  Jetton  English Teaching Assistant Award 
Sara  Kouchehbagh  Study/Research Award 
Sarah  LaGioia  English Teaching Assistant Award 
Elizabeth  Larios  Study/Research Award 
Hana  Lethen  Study/Research Award 
Joshua  Linkous  Study/Research Award 
Owen  MacDonald  Study/Research Award 
Jennifer  Macias Arvizo  English Teaching Assistant Award 
Amelia  Madarang  English Teaching Assistant Award 
Samantha  Manz  Study/Research Award 
Felicia  McGill  English Teaching Assistant Award 
Kathryn  McGillivray  English Teaching Assistant Award 
Ismenia  Miranda  English Teaching Assistant Award 
Darrika  Morklithavong  English Teaching Assistant Award 
Andrew  Ngo  English Teaching Assistant Award 
Nancy  Nguyen  English Teaching Assistant Award 
Aisha  Odusanya  English Teaching Assistant Award 
Isabel  Owen  English Teaching Assistant Award 
Cristian  Payan  English Teaching Assistant Award 
Alexandra  Perez  English Teaching Assistant Award 
Alexis  Pitchford  English Teaching Assistant Award 
Michael  Portillo  English Teaching Assistant Award 
Sopheak  Sam  Study/Research Award 
Sarah  Schubert  English Teaching Assistant Award 
Bo  Shimmin  Study/Research Award 
Grace  Sill  English Teaching Assistant Award 
Gabriella  Son  English Teaching Assistant Award 
Josephine  Valentine  English Teaching Assistant Award 
Paul  Vaughan  Study/Research Award 
Ilya  Wang  Study/Research Award 

 

Many Gilman Scholars point to their Gilman Scholarship experience as a pivotal point in their lives, significantly impacting their academic and career goals. Gilman Alumna and 2022 Fulbright recipient Forough Askarirad shared, “Studying abroad as a Gilman Scholar allowed me to live, learn, and explore a country and culture that is different from my own. This experience allowed me to grow confident in my independence as a working professional abroad. I felt encouraged and prepared since I had already done it with The Gilman Program.”

Gilman Alumna and 2022 Fulbright recipient Ilya Wang told us, “Being awarded the Gilman Scholarship gave me the confidence to not only live and learn outside of my comfort zone in different countries, but also to continue to follow my curiosity and ambition. These experiences showed me the important–that we all have beautiful stories to share, and that we can all learn a lot simply by listening. The Gilman gave me the confidence to apply for a Fulbright so that I can share my story and create a project based on listening to the stories of others.” 

Gilman Alumnus and 2022 Fulbright recipient Andrew Ngo has a similar view, “The Gilman Scholarship reassured me that for 1st-generation college students, studying abroad can be a possibility, which further encouraged me to apply for the Fulbright Program. The financial support and realization for global study were integral to my desire to connect and build understanding with people not only globally, but also across the diverse communities within the U.S. Additionally, my advisor and recommenders provided me support and advice in keeping my writing as objective and purposeful as possible.” 

During their grants, Fulbrighters will meet, work, live with and learn from the people of the host country, sharing daily experiences. The program facilitates cultural exchange through direct interaction on an individual basis in the classroom, field, home, and in routine tasks, allowing the grantee to gain an appreciation of others’ viewpoints and beliefs, the way they do things, and the way they think. Through engagement in the community, individuals will interact with their hosts on a one-to-one basis in an atmosphere of openness, academic integrity, and intellectual freedom, thereby promoting mutual understanding. 

“As a Fulbrighter, I look forward to fully immersing myself in Argentine culture. By trying their rich cuisine, broadening my view on education, my knowledge of Latin America and the influence of indigenous languages on Argentine Spanish. I also hope to join in on a game of fútbol because I want to experience Argentina’s passion for the sport. All of my experiences abroad will allow me to teach my students once back in the United States about the language and also immerse them in the culture,” shared Gilman Alumna and 2022 Fulbright recipient Yoko Chavez.  

“While I look forward to entering the world of archival research, what most excites me is the opportunity to get to know, work with, and learn from the people I will be surrounded by, whether that be the students and professors at my affiliate university, or the farmers and locals of the region that I study. With a full year provided by Fulbright to immerse myself, I believe that these experiences will shape my project as much as any collection of papers,” Gilman Alumnus and 2022 Fulbright recipient Joshua Linkous.

“My Fulbright experience will be a bit different to what I am used to, as I will be teaching as well as learning. I look forward to being able to explore Thailand, I look forward to learning more about the country’s customs and history. I look forward to meeting my students and fellow staff and engaging them in the many different activities I’ve dreamed of. I look forward to being open minded and doing my best to take in a new and wonderful experience,” shared Gilman Alumna and 2022 Fulbright recipient Aisha Odusanya. 

Learn more about the Fulbright U.S. Student Program and apply at us.fulbrightonline.org. 

Award Notifications Issued for Gilman Program Spring 2022

Read the full release here.

May 4, 2022 – The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program is pleased to announce that nearly 3,000 U.S. undergraduate students have been selected to receive Gilman Program awards from the March 2022 application deadline. Despite the on-going pandemic, as travel and study abroad have opened, we are pleased to announce a higher selection number this award cycle. The recipients of this prestigious scholarship are American undergraduate students attending 536 U.S. colleges and represent 49 U.S. states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. These Gilman Scholars will study or intern in 91 countries through April 2023. This group includes 20 recipients of the John McCain International Scholarship for the Children of Military Families (Gilman-McCain Scholarship), as well as Gilman Scholars supported by the governments of France, Israel, New Zealand, and Wales, and the Luso-American Development Foundation (FLAD) in Portugal, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO), and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). The complete list of students who have been selected to receive Gilman Scholarships this cycle, including the students’ home states, colleges or universities and host countries, is available on the website: gilmanscholarship.org

Gilman Alumni Among 2022 Pickering and Rangel Fellows

The U.S. Department of State’s Gilman International Scholarship Program is proud to announce that ten Gilman Alumni have been selected as Thomas R. Pickering Graduate Fellows and five Gilman Alumni have been selected as Charles B. Rangel Graduate Fellows.

Pickering Fellows
  • Irla Atanda, South Africa, 2017
  • Tima Dasouki, Virtual-Turkey, 2020
  • Kali Dykstra, Senegal, 2019
  • Christopher Murphy, China, 2014
  • Josh Pope, Virtual-Taiwan, 2021
  • Michael Portillo, Virtual-Taiwan, 2020
  • Arthur Rodriguez, Spain, 2019
  • Maya Rosales, Spain, 2020
  • Katherine Torres, Australia, Argentina, 2019
  • Vladyslav Wallace, France, 2018
Rangel Fellows
  • Craig Joiner, Japan, 2018-2019
  • Mayeen Mohammedi, Namibia, 2012-2013
  • Maia Moore, China, 2016
  • Ramatu Muhammed, Jordan, 2021
  • Joy Woods, Japan, 2018

The U.S. Department of State’s Pickering Fellowship offers a unique opportunity to promote positive change in the world. Fellows have the opportunity to work as Foreign Service Officers under applicable law and State Department policy, serving in Washington, D.C. and at a U.S. embassy, consulate, or diplomatic mission around the globe. Fellows also agree to a minimum five-year service commitment in the Department of State’s Foreign Service. The five-year service commitment begins upon entry into the Foreign Service.

The Rangel Graduate Fellowship is a program that aims to attract and prepare outstanding young people for careers in the Foreign Service of the U.S. Department of State in which they can help formulate, represent and implement U.S. foreign policy. The Rangel Program selects outstanding Rangel Fellows annually in a highly competitive nationwide process and supports them through two years of graduate study, internships, mentoring and professional development activities.

The fellowship winners said their Gilman experience greatly impacted their interest in foreign service careers and their decision to apply for additional opportunities: “My experience as a Gilman Scholar gave me the invaluable opportunity to sharpen my Turkish skills with an institution abroad which I believe set me apart as a candidate for the Pickering Fellowship. Because of this opportunity, I was able to engage with foreign interlocutors and serve as a citizen diplomat to Turkish faculty and international students studying in the same program– an important skill for the Foreign Service,” said Pickering recipient Tima Dasouki.

Read the full article here.

Partnership Between The American Institute in Taiwan and Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Support of the U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program

March 23, 2022 – The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) is proud to announce a new partnership with Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) to expand the U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program on Taiwan. This partnership will provide 55 additional scholarships for U.S. undergraduate students to study and/or intern for academic credit on Taiwan through the Gilman Program, including study of the Mandarin language under the Critical Need Language Award (CNLA) over the next five years. The award allows exceptional American students from accredited U.S. higher education institutions to strengthen their skills and expand their education experiences while living and learning on Taiwan.

Read the full release here.

Gilman Climate Leaders Virtual Seminar Series Launches on March 24

The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, in partnership with Duke University’s Energy Initiative and Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions, is pleased to announce a free Gilman Climate Leaders Virtual Seminar Series focused on climate change and environmental sustainability, which will launch on March 24, 2022.  The series has been created under the auspices of the Gilman Program for current Gilman scholars and alumni and is also free and open to all American students at U.S. colleges and universities.  The virtual seminar series will run from March 24 through May 12, 2022.

Read the full web announcement.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE BUREAU OF EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS

The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by the Institute of International Education (IIE).

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