Two students from Southeastern Oklahoma State University have been honored as recipients of the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
Raylee McGlocklin and Arielle Turner are among the select group of approximately 1,200 American undergraduate students hailing from 354 colleges and universities across the nation chosen to receive the Gilman International Scholarship in the latest award period.
McGlocklin, a senior majoring in fisheries and wildlife science from Milburn, will embark on a study abroad program in Belize and Guatemala during the spring 2024 semester. Meanwhile, Turner, a senior majoring in English education from Atoka, is set to undertake studies in England and Scotland during the summer 2024 term.
Dr. Kyle Lincoln, interim director of study abroad and assistant professor of history and interdisciplinary humanities at Southeastern, expressed pride in the university’s multiple scholarship recipients in this cycle. He emphasized the significant opportunities that study abroad experiences can afford students in their respective fields of study, highlighting the value of scholarships like the Gilman International Scholarship.
Gilman Scholars are granted up to $5,000 to offset the costs of their study abroad or internship programs. The program aims to support undergraduate students with limited financial means in pursuing academic studies or internships abroad, thereby acquiring skills crucial to national security and economic competitiveness. Eligible applicants include students receiving a Federal Pell Grant from two- and four-year institutions, intending to study abroad or partake in a career-oriented international internship for academic credit.
Recipients of the scholarship are afforded the chance to broaden their understanding of diverse cultures, countries, languages, and economies, thereby enhancing their readiness to assume leadership roles within both governmental and private sectors.
The late Congressman Benjamin A. Gilman, who served in the House of Representatives for three decades and chaired the House Foreign Relations Committee, was a proponent of international education. He emphasized the transformative impact of study abroad experiences, underscoring their role in fostering cross-cultural understanding and preparing students to actively engage in the global community.
Administered by the Institute of International Education, the Gilman Scholarship program plays a pivotal role in advancing American diplomacy and business interests. The enduring connections forged by American students during their international studies contribute to the nation’s resilience in both times of conflict and peace.
