Submitted by: Alexandra Nieves, adepner1@uca.edu on 12/12/2024
The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, founded in 2001, enables U.S. undergraduate students receiving federal Pell Grant to study or intern abroad, providing them with skills critical to our national security and economic prosperity. On average, 65 percent of Gilman recipients are from rural areas and small towns across the United States, and half are first-generation college students. At the conclusion of the October 2024 application cycle, the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship was awarded to approximately 1,600 American undergraduate students from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. From UCA, 8 students applied for the fall cycle and four (50%) received awards totaling $12,500.
The Office of Education Abroad wants to recognize the following awardees:
Clover McEntarffer was selected for an award for a Fall 2025 semester length program in Angers, France. They will study at CIDEF at l’Université Catholique de l’Ouest next Fall. Clover is a junior majoring in French and Creative Writing with a minor in English. They plan to graduate in Spring 2026.
Emily Burgess was selected for an award for our Summer 2025 faculty-led program: “Occupational Therapy and Nursing Abroad: Keys to Well-Being in Costa Rica.” Emily is a senior majoring in Nursing with a minor in Home Economics. She plans to graduate in Spring 2026.
MacKenzie Ainsworth was selected for an award for a Fall 2025 semester length program in Seoul, South Korea. She will study at Myongji University next Fall. MacKenzie is a sophomore majoring in Business and minoring in TESOL. She plans to graduate in Fall 2027.
Bianca Martin was selected for an award for a Spring 2025 semester length program in Angers, France. She will study at CIDEF at l’Université Catholique de l’Ouest this Spring. Bianca is a junior majoring in French with minors in Africana Studies and Film. She plans to graduate in Spring 2026.
This is a record number of awards for UCA, doubling the previous record from the October 2021 cycle.
Please join us in congratulating these award recipients!