Four UT students are among more than 1,400 American undergraduate students from 427 colleges and universities across the country selected to receive the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship.
The congressionally funded scholarship aims to broaden the US student population studying and interning abroad by providing scholarships to outstanding Pell Grant recipients who might not otherwise have the opportunity to study aboard.
“We are excited for our newest Gilman Scholars to engage with their world and their academic disciplines in such an impactful way during their undergraduate careers,” said Anne Hulse, assistant director of UT’s Programs Abroad Office. “They represent what is possible for students, creating great opportunities to power their futures.”
The program has been successful in supporting students who have been historically underrepresented in education abroad, including veterans, first-generation college students, students in STEM fields, ethnic minority students, students with disabilities, students attending historically black colleges and universities or other minority-serving institutions, students attending community colleges, and students from US states with less study abroad participation.
Gilman Scholars receive up to $5,000 to apply toward the costs of a study or internship abroad program. Cycle 1 recipients have a program start date between December 1, 2019, and October 31, 2020.
This year’s Cycle 1 recipients at UT are:
- Mason Cordan of Nashville, a senior majoring in wildlife and fisheries science, who will be studying African carnivores in Tanzania with UT affiliate the School for Field Studies
- Codi Drake of Milan, Tennessee, a senior in the College Scholars Program, who will be studying Arabic in Rabat, Morocco, with UT affiliate the Council on International Education Exchange (CIEE)
- Allen Gregg of Greeneville, Tennessee, a veteran and sophomore majoring in modern foreign languages and literatures (Japanese), who will be studying pop culture in Japan through a program led by UT Associate Professor Noriko Horiguchi
- Kayla McCracken of Memphis, a senior majoring in kinesiology, who will be participating in an academic internship in Dublin, Ireland
Cycle 1 alternates are:
- Emily McWilliams, a junior majoring in retail, hospitality, and tourism management, who will be studying in Gold Coast, Australia, with UT affiliate International Studies Abroad in spring 2020
- Augustus Young, a junior majoring in modern foreign languages and literatures (German), who will study abroad in a future term
- Rebecca Rahn, a junior majoring in animal science, who will be studying at University College Dublin in Ireland in spring 2020
- Christina Cho, a junior majoring in biological sciences, who will be studying health and natural sciences in Valencia, Spain, with UT affiliate International Studies Abroad in spring 2020
Students interested in the Gilman Scholarship can contact the Gilman advisors in UT’s Programs Abroad Office at gilman@utk.edu. The office also offers workshops and essay advising sessions. Email volsabroad@utk.edu or visit the Programs Abroad Office website for additional information.
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CONTACT:
Karen Richters (865-974-3177, richters@utk.edu)
Maddie Stephens (865-974-3993, msteph44@utk.edu)