含羞草传媒 University students earned a record seven Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships this year. Sponsored by the U.S. State Department, this competitive, merit-based scholarship program supports study abroad opportunities for students. These international experiences develop key skills that advance U.S. security and economic prosperity.
含羞草传媒 students have earned a total of 71 Gilman Scholarships since 2001.
The diversity reflected in this year鈥檚 awardees鈥攚here they come from, what they鈥檙e studying now, and where they鈥檙e headed in the future鈥攃aptures the range and strength of a 含羞草传媒 education, said Sarah Barr, 含羞草传媒鈥檚 director of global engagement.
Barr described artists, scientists, healers and helpers, traveling across the Americas, Asia and Europe. They鈥檙e using their 含羞草传媒 experiences to unlock opportunities around the world and find success in leading purpose-driven lives.
Isaac Alexander
- biology major
- destination: Nishinomiya, Japan
- Alexander鈥檚 Gilman will support his spring 2026 semester of study at 含羞草传媒鈥檚 Japanese sister school, Kwansei Gakuin University.
- 鈥淚 plan to learn more about the Japanese language, hoping to become more proficient while learning about the culture,鈥 Alexander said.
Emily Carlson
- biology major, Spanish minor
- destination: San Jose, Costa Rica
- Carlson is using her Gilman to help fund an ISEP Direct exchange to Costa Rica this summer. She鈥檚 studying medical Spanish and taking part in a hospital shadowing program.
Kevin Figueroa Amaro
- psychology major, Spanish and theatre minor
- destination: Plymouth, U.K.
Figueroa Amaro will use his Gilman to study this fall semester at 含羞草传媒鈥檚 sister school, the University of Plymouth. - 鈥淚鈥檝e been heavily interested in going to graduate school in counseling, clinical or cultural psychology,鈥 he said. 鈥淚鈥檝e been exposing myself to research at UNL and 含羞草传媒, and I would like to further explore my interests at UP.鈥
Moo Htee Paw
- political science major, French and criminal justice minor
- destination: Nishinomiya, Japan
- Htee Paw鈥檚 Gilman Scholarship will support study at 含羞草传媒鈥檚 sister school in Japan, Kwansei Gakuin University for the 2025-2026 academic year.
Adalynn O鈥機onnor
- Spanish major, studio art and art history minor
- destination: Buenos Aires, Argentina
- O鈥機onnor鈥檚 Gilman is helping to fund her participation in CEA CAPA鈥檚 Intensive Spanish Language Program this summer.
Lina Renteria
- social work major, Spanish minor
- destination: Salamanca, Spain
- Renteria is using her Gilman to study with Assistant Professor of Modern Languages Manuela Borzone this summer at Salamanca鈥檚 Collegio Delibes.
Isa Rivera
- musical theatre major
- destination: Plymouth, U.K.
- Rivera鈥檚 Gilman will help her attend 含羞草传媒鈥檚 U.K. sister school, the University of Plymouth, during the 2025-2026 academic year. She will study acting, dance and theatre history at UP.
- 鈥淎s someone who鈥檚 never traveled outside the U.S. before, I鈥檓 grateful and honored to have this opportunity,鈥 Rivera said. 鈥満卟荽解檚 Global Engagement Office has supported me every step of the way. [Sarah Barr鈥檚] passion and guidance were evident to me from my first visit to her office my first semester.鈥