Eighteen students from West Virginia University have been awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships, enabling them to participate in study abroad programs this summer without financial constraints. The scholarships are funded by the U.S. State Department and aim to provide transformative international education experiences.
Katy Ferrari, assistant director of the WVU ASPIRE Office, stated, “We’re incredibly proud of our students for recognizing the value in studying abroad and continuing to be competitive for the Gilman Scholarship.” She added that these awards reflect not only the students’ drive and potential but also highlight the importance of collaboration between the ASPIRE Office and WVU Office of Global Affairs.
The scholarship recipients include Ethan Barahona, a marketing major traveling to Japan; Bella Botero, a nursing major heading to Spain; Alexa Gamarra, double majoring in political science and international studies, who will travel to France; Annabella Gorostieta, an economics major going to Kenya; Alexis Hicks, an interior architecture major visiting Western Europe; Karina Leach, focusing on environmental and natural resources economics traveling to Italy; Lauryn Lynch, a criminology major visiting Spain; Alexander Nichols, a psychology major heading to the United Kingdom; Josslyn Rice, another criminology major traveling to Spain; Elijah Riggleman, a history major visiting the Czech Republic; Holly Rogers specializing in sport psychology heading to Peru; Abigail Sherrill in interior architecture visiting Western Europe; Gabriele Smith, a philosophy major going to Thailand; William Snidow also in philosophy traveling to France; Chloe Thomas studying psychology heading to London; Alexia Whitehair focusing on anthropology visiting the United Kingdom; James Williams in exercise physiology traveling to Switzerland and Sarah Wilson studying psychology who will also visit Switzerland.
