Twenty-seven UTSA students have been named recipients of the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for the 2022-2023 academic year. This federal program provides valuable international experiences to a wide and diverse group of students.
The 27 students make up the largest class of UTSA Gilman Scholars. The previous record was 17 students during the 2019-2020 academic year. In total, this year’s cohort received $102,500 in scholarship funding.
Administered by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the Gilman Scholarship supports undergraduates who might not otherwise have the opportunity to study in a diverse array of world regions due to financial constraints.
This year’s recipients are:
- Sania Nadirali Bardoi, studying in Italy
- Emiliano Beltran
- Ian Caldwell, Japan
- Alondra Castillo, Japan
- Allison Clay, Japan
- Hannah Diaz, South Korea
- Ana Erbskorn, Italy
- Jordan Finnie, Italy
- Roger Grande, Spain
- Quentin Hernández, Latvia
- Rosa Ibarra, Italy
- Austin Jennings, Japan
- Katy Marroquin, Spain
- Paulina Martinez, Spain
- Hunter Messick, Denmark
- Leanne Morgan, Italy
- Tommy Nguyen, Japan
- Macario Patten, Italy
- Abigail Perea
- Saba Rajput, Italy
- Christopher Rosenbaum, Italy
- Amy Salazar-Molina, Italy
- Alexis Seals, Japan
- Miriam Smith
- Anel Tejeda-Rodríguez, Spain
- Kayla Trujillo, Italy
- Andrea Valero, Germany
Jennings, Patten and Seals received Gilman-McCain Scholarships. This is a new Gilman scholarship that provides awards of $5,000 for children and spousal dependents of active or activated United States military personnel.
Hernandez received an additional Critical Need Language Award to study Russian. Seals received this award to study Japanese. Gilman applicants who are studying a critical need language while abroad in a country or location in which the language is predominantly spoken can apply for a supplemental award of up to $3,000, for a combined total of up to $8,000.
Students who are receiving a Federal Pell Grant and plan to study abroad next year can apply for the Gilman scholarship. There are two Gilman cycles each academic year, in the fall and spring. The application process for the upcoming fall cycle will open in mid-August and run through October 5, 2023. Students are able to apply two semesters in advance of their travel semester.
The UTSA Office of Nationally Competitive Awards advises all UTSA students on the Gilman scholarship application, among other national award opportunities. The office also meets with faculty who lead study abroad programs, so that they can advertise these opportunities to students.
In fall 2022, the Honors College also started the Study Abroad Planning Award to promote and increase access to study abroad opportunities to its students.
To encourage more students to apply for the Gilman Scholarship and secure additional funding, the Honors College also aligned their application essays and deadlines for the Planning Award to match the Gilman Scholarship requirements. Of the 27 UTSA students selected for the Gilman Scholarship this year, 12 are Honors College students.
Studying abroad is one of the experiential learning opportunities that advance the university’s Classroom to Career Initiative. Students who study abroad experience many benefits, including improving their language and intercultural skills, broadening their perspectives through exposure to different cultures and traditions and gaining confidence, all of which can enhance their career opportunities.
UTSA is a Tier One research university and a Hispanic Serving Institution specializing in cyber, health, fundamental futures and social-economic transformation. UTSA aspires to become a model for student success, a great public research university, and an exemplar for strategic growth and innovative excellence.
