Nine students, five representing various programs within the Judith Enyeart Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (RCASH), have been awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for the 2024 Zambia Education Abroad program.

The nine recipients are Ellie McAvin (Anthropology), Kendall Platner (History Education), Destiny Shaw (History Education), Noah Maddux (Music Education), Medley Linton (Psychology and Criminology), Rylee Forman (Political Science), Drew Donigan (Information Technology/Cybersecurity), Syed Usman Ali (Cellular and Molecular Biology) and Isabella Robillard (Biology).

McAvin, Platner, Shaw, Maddux, Linton and Forman are all students within the RCASH community.

Gilman a big step toward funding education abroad

Only students who are U.S. citizens and are Pell Grant recipients qualify for a Gilman Scholarship. Students can apply by either the March or October deadlines to be considered for a summer program.

Gilman awards bring much-needed assistance for students who want to participate in an education abroad program, according to Dr. Mary Willis, professor and head of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Gerontology.

Willis’ study abroad program in Zambia is just one of several Education Abroad programs offered at MSU. Students applying for a Gilman can use their award toward any of MSU’s Education Abroad opportunities.

“In every year that I have taken students [to Africa], I have had Gilman Scholarship recipients as part of the program,” Willis said. “This past fall of 2023, more students applied for the Gilman than I have ever had apply before – 10 applied and 9 received awards.”

Historically, study abroad has been viewed as an elite activity, according to Willis. The Gilman was created to ensure all students who are interested in international study have the means and opportunity to do so.

By providing assistance to students, the Gilman will ease some of the financial burden of paying for the trip to Zambia, Willis said.

But not all of it.

“The trip is $9,500. Gilman provides from $3,000 to $5,000,” she said.

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