Eleven UT students have been selected for the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to study or intern abroad during summer 2019. Another four students have been selected as alternates.
The congressionally-funded Gilman Program broadens the US student population studying and interning abroad by providing scholarships to outstanding undergraduate Pell Grant recipients who, due to financial constraints, might not otherwise study abroad. Since the program’s establishment in 2001, more than 1,300 US institutions have sent more than 28,000 Gilman Scholars who represent the rich diversity of the United States to 145 countries around the globe.
“The Gilman Program aims to make study abroad, and its career advantages, more accessible and inclusive for American students. These diverse American students gain critical skills overseas that expand their career options and ability to make an impact in their home communities,” said Heidi Manley, chief of USA Study Abroad at the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
The total number of UT award recipients for the 2018–2019 academic year has risen to 18 students, which is the highest number of recipients UT has ever had for the scholarship.
Summer 2019 Scholarship Recipients
Shahirahlyn Ali
- Hometown: Knoxville, Tennessee
- Major: Journalism and electronic media
- Minor: Arab studies
- UT faculty-directed program: Studying in Prague, Czech Republic, with the UTK Going on Assignment in Pragueprogram, which features an investigative journalism research project
Alexandria Ansari
- Hometown: Tullahoma, Tennessee
- Major: Pre-pharmacy and Spanish
- Minor: Psychology
- UT affiliate program: Studying Korean language and culture in Seoul at Korea University
Carmen Danley
- Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee
- Major: Human resource management with a concentration in international business
- Minor: Leadership studies
- UT affiliate program: Studying intensive Spanish language in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Shelby Delille
- Hometown: Recife, Brazil
- Major: Social work
- Minor: Child and family studies
- UT affiliate program: Conducting field research with a social service agency in Accra, Ghana
Destiny Fortner
- Hometown: Tampa, Florida
- Major: Sociology
- Minor: Africana studies
- UT faculty-directed program: Studying in Dakar, Senegal, with the UTK Africana Studies International Civic Engagement: Service Learning in Senegal Program, which features a community-based social rehabilitation project
Taylor Gipson
- Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee
- Major: Psychology
- Minor: Business administration
- UT affiliate program: Studying Spanish language, culture, and business in Seville, Spain
Symantha Gregorash
- Hometown: Johnson City, Tennessee
- Majors: Sociology and religious studies
- UT faculty-directed Program: Studying and archaeological field research in Amman, Jordan, with the UTK Dig Jordan program
Andressia Harris
- Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee
- Major: Anthropology
- UT affiliate program: Studying community public health in Gaborone, Botswana
Will Rector
- Hometown: Huntland, Tennessee
- Major: Business analytics with a concentration in international business
- UT academic internship: Interning full-time in Tokyo, Japan
Isis West
- Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
- Major: Anthropology
- Minor: Public health
- UT affiliate program: Studying community public health in Gaborone, Botswana
Mick Woodward
- Hometown: Venice, Florida
- Major: Theatre
- Minor: Computer science
- UT affiliate program: Studying acting and theatre in Dublin, Ireland
Summer 2019 Alternates:
Michael Banks
- Hometown: Franklin, Tennessee
- Major: Supply chain management with a concentration in international business
- UT academic internship: Interning full-time in the fashion industry in Milan, Italy
Alisa Emerson
- Hometown: Paducah, Kentucky
- Major: Political science
- UT faculty-directed Program: Studying German language in Freiburg, Germany, with the UTK Intermediate German Language program
Uriah Richey
- Hometown: Knoxville, Tennessee
- Major(s): Africana studies and sociology (pre-law)
- UT affiliate program: Studying public health and development in Dakar, Senegal
Connor Shelander
- Hometown: Oak Ridge, Tennessee
- Major: Mechanical engineering
- UT faculty-directed program: Studying mechanical and electrical and computer engineering in London, UK, with the UT Knoxville Engineering in London program
Spring 2019 Recipients
Alisa Lim
- Hometown: Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Major: Linguistics
- Minor: French and francophone studies
- Studied at Kansai Gaidai University in Tokyo, Japan (UT exchange)
Maikel Mikaiel
- Hometown: Antioch, Tennessee
- Major: Supply chain management
- Studied and interned in London, UK, with the Greg and Lisa Smith Global Leadership Scholars program (UT faculty-directed program)
Lashay Beard
- Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
- Major: Recreation and sport management
- Minor: Business administration
- Studied at the University of Manchester in Manchester, UK (UT exchange)
Fall 2018 Recipients
Hannah Alkulaghsi
- Hometown: Knoxville, Tennessee
- Major: Anthropology
- Minor: Arab studies
- Studied migration and transnational identity in Morocco and the Netherlands with SIT (UT affiliate program)
Brooke Ballard
- Hometown: Cookeville, Tennessee
- Major: Chemical engineering
- Minor: Hispanic studies
- Studied cultural identity, social justice, and community development in Chile with SIT (UT affiliate program)
Sonidda No
- Hometown: Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Major: Interdisciplinary studies
- Studied intensive Chinese language in Beijing, China, with CET (UT affiliate program)
For UT students who are interested in learning more or applying for the Gilman Scholarship, the UT Programs Abroad Office offers workshops and essay advising sessions during open application cycles. Email volsabroad@utk.edu for additional information. Learn more about studying abroad by visiting the Programs Abroad Office website.