Media contact: Yvonne Taunton
Eight University of Alabama at Birmingham students have been selected for the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. This is the largest cohort of recipients from UAB in a single application cycle and the most recipients from a single institution in Alabama.
The Gilman Scholarship is sponsored by the United States Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The program aims to make study abroad experiences accessible to a more diverse population of students and gives students the opportunity to gain a better understanding of other cultures, countries, languages and economies — making them better prepared to assume leadership roles in government and the private sector.
“In a year when travel was largely off the table, it’s uplifting to work with these students as they reach for an opportunity like Gilman,” said Michelle Cook, Ph.D., interim director of UAB’s Office of National and International Fellowships and Scholarships. “Gaining national recognition in this way empowers these students toward even greater things in the future.”
Students are selected for the Gilman Scholarship through a highly competitive application process. The program receives more than 10,000 applications each year and awards students up to $5,000 toward their study abroad or internship program costs. The recipients of this prestigious scholarship are United States undergraduate students attending 467 U.S. colleges and represent all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. This application cycle’s Gilman Scholars will study or intern in 96 countries through the end of 2022.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students are working with UAB’s Office of Education Abroad to arrange their trips for 2022. Recipients include:
- Amy Trinh, neuroscience, Spain
- Liza Thomas, philosophy, South Korea
- Jenil Patel, biomedical sciences, Spain
- Kelsey Lockhart, international studies, South Korea
- Michayla Jeremiah, nursing, China
- Nicollette Houston-Turner, biomedical sciences, Italy
- Shunn Frazier, Spanish, Spain
- Diego Delaney, economics, New Zealand
“We are so proud of our new Gilman Scholars and all they have achieved in their studies at UAB and what they plan to do as they get immersed in new cultures around the world,” said UAB Senior Vice President and Provost Pam Benoit, Ph.D. “Our students have shown determination and resilience in the face of the pandemic, and that is demonstrated through this new institutional record of students participating in this unique opportunity.”
UAB’s Office of National and International Fellowships and Scholarships works closely with the UAB Education Abroad team to guide students through the scholarship process and help them manage the logistics of international travel.
“This accomplishment is a team effort — our students’ hard work and creativity paired with expert guidance from our global engagement and fellowships and scholarships team,” said Majd Zayzafoon, M.D., Ph.D., MBA, assistant provost for International Education and associate dean for International Medical Education. “I am grateful for the work done to ensure our students have access to life-changing opportunities to become more engaged global citizens.”
Students interested in learning more about nationally competitive scholarships, including Gilman, should contact fellowships@uab.edu for more information.