Eight students from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, have been offered Gilman Scholarships by the U.S. Department of State. Totaling $26,500, the scholarships will support the students as they study languages and cultures abroad.
“The Gilman Scholarship becomes increasingly competitive each year, and these eight scholars were chosen out of a national applicant pool of over 7,100 per the U.S. Department of State — a 30% increase from last year,” said Ryan Lee, assistant director of fellowships for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships. “We’re so proud of their work and can’t wait to hear about their successes upon return.”
The scholarship is named for Benjamin Gilman, who served from 1973 to 2003 in the House of Representatives and for many years on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. It encourages students from all academic fields and backgrounds to study or intern abroad in all world regions, developing skills essential to the United States’ national security and economic prosperity.
Meet the recipients
Max Aba of Knoxville is a first-year student studying elementary education.
Aba will study at Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan, to learn more about Japanese education, language and culture.
“I am so grateful to be receiving the Gilman Scholarship,” said Aba. “I want to say thank you to Ryan Lee, the URF team and the Writing Center tutors who helped me throughout the application process. In Japan, I will be able to learn about the Japanese education system and use the knowledge I gain to better support my future students.”
Terrin Hibbler of Longtown, Mississippi, is a senior studying supply chain management and language and world business with a concentration in Chinese. He is minoring in Asian studies.
Hibbler will study in Taiwan and hopes to explore museums and culturally significant sites there to further deepen his understanding of what it means to be Taiwanese.
“Being selected for the Gilman Scholarship is an incredible honor that allows me to further my passion for cultural exchange and academic growth,” said Hibbler. “I’m excited to serve as a cultural ambassador in Taiwan, deepening my understanding of its history and Mandarin Chinese.”
Yasmin Onsipahioglu of Miami Beach, Florida, is a junior studying hospitality and tourism and management with minors in Hispanic studies and business.
Onsipahioglu will study in Spain at the University of Barcelona, where she will take hospitality and tourism courses in Spanish while immersing herself in the city’s rich culture. The program will enhance Onsipahioglu’s academic knowledge, cultural understanding and professional skills in the global hospitality industry.
“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to study abroad through the support of the Gilman Scholarship,” said Onsipahioglu. “This experience will allow me to immerse myself in a new culture, expand my academic and professional horizons, and gain invaluable skills that will shape my future in the global hospitality industry.”
Nevada Reymer of Knoxville is a senior studying sociology and psychology.
Reymer will spend two weeks in Japan exploring the country’s culture, politics and history, including the relationship between Japan and the United States. The trip will include classes and differential cultural activities in the cities of Kobe, Tokyo, Kyoto and Hiroshima and on the island of Miyajima, as well as interactions with scholars, diplomats and Japanese students.
“I am honored to be selected for this international scholarship and to see the opportunities that it allows me to embark on,” said Reymer. “This experience will enhance my academic and professional goals, and I am excited to represent my university while gaining insights that would otherwise not have been possible.”
Lillian Snead of Knoxville is a junior studying political science with a concentration in public administration with minors in Spanish and women, gender and sexuality.
Snead will participate in UT’s Advanced Spanish Language in Costa Rica program, which will improve her Spanish language skills through classes and cultural immersion opportunities such as living with a host family. She also hopes to learn more about other forms of governance and public policy to give her new perspectives on policy reform.
“I’m profoundly grateful for this life-changing opportunity and the people who helped make it possible,” said Snead. “I’m looking forward to not only going on the adventure of a lifetime but also to expanding my horizons and harnessing this opportunity to make a difference.”
Makenzie Walker of Memphis is a first-year student majoring in history and anthropology.
Walker will be spending the summer in Kyoto, Japan, to take classes and learn more about the country through study tours and cultural excursions. She will also be volunteering at a local food kitchen.
“I’m thankful for God always touching me and my heart and motivating me to pursue this scholarship,” said Walker. “Hopefully, I’m able to touch other people with what this opportunity will teach me.”
Kyra Wilson of Maryville, Tennessee, is a junior with a double major in Russian studies and political science with a focus in international affairs.
This spring, Wilson will go to Riga, Latvia, to study Russian and be fully immersed in speaking and writing the language. She will also embark on cultural excursions to learn about local Latvian culture and the differences between Russian and Latvian society.
“The Gilman Scholarship has given me the funds needed to go abroad, something I never thought was possible,” said Wilson. “I’m excited about the opportunity to learn Russian in a community that is familiar with the language and learn about the local Latvian language and culture as well. I hope to use this knowledge to one day pursue my goal of working with refugees globally. Russian is widely spoken in post-Soviet countries like Latvia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan and many others I hope to work in one day, and learning the language will encourage me to learn other complex languages that will benefit me when working with refugees in the future.”
One student declined the award.
Lee also shared his thanks to the Judith Anderson Herbert Writing Center and their professional tutors for supporting the students throughout the process, including workshops and writing retreats.
“This is a campus partnership we celebrate and one from which the students greatly benefit,” he said.
To explore fellowship opportunities or for support applying to nationally competitive awards like the Gilman Scholarship, UT students can visit the Undergraduate Research and Fellowships website or contact the Programs Abroad office.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Maggie Palmer (865-974-3993, mpalme19@utk.edu)