A Record 20 Rutgers Students Earn Gilman International Scholarships
A record 20 students across Rutgers University have been awarded the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, which empowers students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad, fostering mutual understanding between the United States and other countries.
This milestone highlights Rutgers’ growing commitment to global education and access for all students, especially those traditionally underrepresented in study abroad programs.
Breaking Barriers Through Global Education
The Spring 2025 Rutgers Gilman Scholars will study and intern in countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, and Central America through a variety of programs that span research, health, sustainability, governance, and cultural exchange.
“This achievement is not just about numbers,” said Lauren Meregalli Ferrer, Director of Study Abroad. “It’s about access, equity, and the transformative power of international education. These students represent the future of global citizenship.”
2025 Rutgers Gilman Scholarship Recipients:
Rutgers–New Brunswick: Le'Nahjaa Bailey, Joselyn Sabillon Corea, Erin Dacey, Jade Dunkley Davis, Arianna Entero, Steisy Gomez, Drishti Kanakia, Chen Li, Samuel McIntyre, Maryann “Skye” Ossai, Nour Sorour, Alexia Williams
Rutgers–Camden: Jenna Ahmed, Tiffany Chan, QueenTeja Cooper, Nandini Doddi, Islijah Hernandez, David Parr, Julia Serrano
Rutgers–Newark: Kamilla Tala
Voices of Impact
For many awardees, the Gilman Scholarship is far more than financial aid—it’s a launchpad for dreams once thought unreachable. Here are some reflections from some of our Gilman Scholars.
Jenna Ahmed (Health and Wellbeing in Hungary and England) sees the scholarship as “a chance to dedicate myself to cultural understanding,” noting, “We shouldn’t live through only our own lens, or we contribute to our own limiting beliefs.”
Tiffany Chan, who will pursue independent research in the UK, reflects on her path as a first-generation college student: “This opportunity affirms that students like me belong in global research environments. It supports not just my academic journey, but my commitment to equity in STEM.”
QueenTeja Cooper (Ghana: Culture, Politics, and Health/Wellbeing) calls the scholarship “a chance to connect with a part of myself I’ve always felt was missing. It’s helping me become the person I’ve always wanted to be.”
Joselyn Sabillon Corea, heading to Belize for hands-on animal care, says the scholarship makes a dream come true. “It instills in me the confidence to believe that, regardless of my background, I can make a meaningful impact.”
For Erin Dacey, who will intern and study in London, the program is “essential to both my personal and professional growth,” while Arianna Entero sees her Mediterranean study abroad as “an affirmation that my goals are worth investing in.”
Several scholars emphasized the power of being seen and supported. “Without the Gilman Scholarship, studying abroad would have been impossible,” said Chen Li, a first-gen student. “It’s not just financial help—it’s being seen as someone who belongs on the global stage.”
About the Gilman Scholarship
Established in 2001 by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship is named in honor of the late Congressman Benjamin Gilman, a champion for international education. The program seeks to expand access to study abroad opportunities for students who might not otherwise be able to participate—particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds and those with significant financial need.
For the Spring 2025 cycle, Gilman International Scholarship were awarded to 3,500 American undergraduate students from all 50 states and the District of Columbia to study abroad in over 170 countries. More than 70 percent of selected Gilman Scholars are from rural areas and small towns across the United States, and 55 percent are first-generation college students. The Gilman Program received a record high of 17,000 applications across the 2024-2025 academic year.
The Spring 2025 cycle awards support students whose programs begin between May 1, 2025, and April 30, 2026.
A Global Future
These 20 Rutgers students are not only enriching their own educational journeys, but also serving as cultural ambassadors and changemakers, returning with the knowledge, skills, and intercultural understanding needed in today’s globally connected world.
As David Parr noted: “It’s more than just financial support—it reminds me that my goals are valid and within reach, even if my path hasn’t always been traditional.”
