Five current students and one recent graduate from Wabash College have been awarded competitive international scholarships to study in Germany, Spain, France, and Japan.
Rich Brooks (Class of 2026) and Jorge Noriega (Class of 2026) received the Gilman Scholarship to pursue studies in Germany and Spain, respectively. Quinn Manford (Class of 2025) was awarded a Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF) grant. Benjamin Douglas (Class of 2027), Dakota Stacy (Class of 2027), and Christopher Wiatr (Class of 2027) earned the Freeman-ASIA Scholarship to study in Japan.
Rich Brooks, a German major with minors in Black Studies and Economics, is also a two-year varsity basketball player and a member of both the German Club and the Malcolm X Institute. He previously participated in an immersive study trip to Heidelberg, Germany, in Spring 2024. “The Gilman program significantly reduced my out-of-pocket expenses,” said Brooks, from South Bend, Indiana. “As a student-athlete, studying abroad is rare. This scholarship gives me a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I look forward to giving back by sharing my knowledge.” Brooks will be based in Heidelberg during his research.
Biology major Jorge Noriega, who also minors in Psychology, serves as vice president of the Crawfordsville to Campus organization and is active in Phi Delta Theta fraternity and La Alianza, a Latinx student group. “This opportunity has opened many doors and boosted my confidence to be competitive in future endeavors,” said Noriega of Hammond, Indiana. “Studying in Salamanca will help me enhance my native Spanish skills.” Noriega will conduct research in Salamanca, Spain.
Quinn Manford holds degrees in History and Political Science with a minor in Classical Literature. He has participated in the Sphinx Club, Little Giant football team, and Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. Having traveled to Caen with a French class in 2023 and to Nice with the football team in 2024, Manford expressed enthusiasm for his new role. “The TAPIF scholarship allows me to combine teaching with living abroad and cultural immersion,” said Manford, from Atlanta. He will be stationed in Normandy during his teaching assignment.
History major Benjamin Douglas, a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and on the Dean’s List, minors in Asian Studies and holds leadership roles as vice president of the College Republicans and treasurer of the Asian Culture Club. “Receiving the Freeman-ASIA Scholarship is a significant step toward my long-term goals,” said Douglas, from Cleveland. “It aligns with my values of cultural understanding and public service.” He currently interns for Congressman David Joyce (OH-14) and will study in Tokyo.
Philosophy major Dakota Stacy, who minors in Economics, is involved with Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, Wabash golf team, and the Stephenson Institute for Classical Liberal Studies. “I am grateful to the Freeman Foundation for supporting my dream of studying in a country I deeply admire,” said Stacy, from Valparaiso, Indiana. Stacy will also be based in Tokyo.
Christopher Wiatr, an Economics major with minors in Mathematics and Asian Studies, is a member of Phi Kappa Psi, the Wabash swim and dive team, La Alianza, and the Asian Culture Club. Having previously traveled to Poland in Spring 2024 with an English class, Wiatr said, “This award allows me to fully experience Japan’s culture. I strongly advocate for study abroad and help peers prepare scholarship applications.” Wiatr will be stationed in Tokyo.
Susan Albrecht, Wabash’s scholarship advisor, praised this year’s international scholarship achievements. “Wabash men have a strong tradition with the Gilman Scholarship, and it’s encouraging to see this momentum continue,” she said. “It’s great to see student-athletes and STEM majors gaining international study opportunities. Quinn will make an excellent teacher in France.”
The Gilman Scholarship, funded by the U.S. Congress and administered by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, aims to encourage underrepresented students to pursue study abroad. Recipients complete a follow-up service project to promote international education.
The TAPIF program places over 1,500 Americans annually as English teaching assistants in public schools throughout France and its overseas territories, part of a broader initiative involving educators from 60 countries.
The Freeman-ASIA Scholarship provides need-based funding to support study abroad expenses in East and Southeast Asia. Awardees undertake service projects to share their experiences and promote regional study interest on campus and in their communities.
These six scholars join a distinguished group of Wabash students who have earned prestigious awards such as the Rhodes, Marshall, Truman, and Fulbright scholarships. This spring alone, 12 Wabash students received competitive international scholarships.
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