Media contact: Savannah Koplon
Five undergraduate students are continuing the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s legacy of culturally rich education by receiving the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship.
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 give 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.
“The tenacity and optimism of students who are applying for awards like Gilman in the midst of a pandemic, unsure if travel will even be possible, is incredible,” said Michelle Cook, Ph.D., director of Office of National and International Fellowships and Scholarships. “Receiving the Gilman Scholarship opens the door to truly life-changing experiences. I could not be more proud of this group.”
Learn how to start your UAB Honors College journey here.
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. Their target programs include opportunities for undergraduate research, language acquisition, cultural immersion and more.
The recipents include:
- Tanner Caton, neuroscience and Spanish, Spain
- Lillian Kennedy, psychology, United Kingdom
- Valtena Rosenblum, computer science, United Kingdom
- Lexie Thomas, social work, Kenya
- Bradley Vanderbilt, computer science, Japan
Four of the recipients, Caton, Kennedy, Thomas and Vanderbilt, are students in the UAB Honors College.
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.
Learn more about national and international scholarship opportunities available to UAB students at www.uab.edu/fellowships/.
“We are so proud of our Gilman Scholars and their commitment to hard work and cultural literacy. We can’t wait to see their accomplishments 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 perseverance and resilience in the face of the turmoil the pandemic has brought, and that is demonstrated through students’ participating in this unique opportunity.”
Students interested in learning more about nationally competitive scholarships, including Gilman, should contact fellowships@uab.edu for more information.