UMD Celebrates Record Number of Gilman Scholars
Study-Abroad Opportunities for Students With Financial Need Rank Among Top 5 Nationally
Pariya Ahmadi ’26, shown at a wind power plant in Vietnam in January, and Ezequiel Delcid Hernandez ’27 (below), who studied in Tanzania, were among the record-high of 60 Terps who received a Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship in the 2024-25 academic year to study or intern abroad.
Photos courtesy of students
Pariya Ahmadi ’26 was one of the first visitors to a luxurious eco-resort being built at an off-shore wind power plant in Vietnam. She learned how shrimp farmers recycle nutrients that can be used to grow rice organically. And she studied with top researchers at the noted Can Tho University.
The University of Maryland undergraduate’s study abroad experience, funded through a Gilman scholarship, deepened her understanding of global climate challenges and connected directly to her degree in environmental science and policy and concentration in global environmental change.
“We went to areas that tourists would never get to go to, and we spoke to locals about the global warming and global climate change impacts that they're facing,” said Ahmadi, who is among the 60 Terps who received a Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship in the 2024-25 academic year to study or intern abroad––the most UMD has ever received in a year.
UMD recently was ranked No. 4 among all institutions nationwide in the number of students to receive Gilman scholarships, a program of the U.S. Department of State that awards up to $5,000 to U.S. students eligible for Pell Grants for their pursuits abroad. Students can spend up to a year studying languages, working in internships or studying as part of an exchange program. Named for a former U.S. congressman, it’s intended to better prepare American students to work in a global economy and to increase opportunities for first-generation college students.
“UMD's national ranking reflects our commitment to inclusive global learning opportunities that serve the economic diversity of our student body, ensuring access regardless of financial need,” said Lauren Ruszczyk, UMD’s director of Education Abroad.
The achievement was made possible through Education Abroad’s partnership with the National Scholarships Office and the support of the Gilman Guarantee, which provides a guaranteed $500 scholarship to qualified students who complete Gilman applications and go on to study abroad.
“UMD is committed to making international experiences accessible to all students by prioritizing financial support opportunities like the Gilman Scholarship,” said William A. Cohen, associate provost and dean for undergraduate studies. “These efforts ensure that students from all backgrounds can take part in transformative global learning experiences.”
Taylor Wilbon ’26, a marketing and international business double major who just finished a semester at University Carlos III of Madrid in Spain, said the program was life-changing. It allowed her to visit nine countries, and to build up her courage.
“It's a pretty big dream to travel the world, especially when you've never been out of the country,” said Wilbon. “I would not have been able to go abroad without the Gilman [scholarship].”
The Gilman Scholarship is among the many competitive, prestigious awards available to UMD undergraduate students. “We work closely with students to help them identify and pursue opportunities that align with their goals—whether that’s studying abroad, contributing to research, or preparing for public service,” said Francis DuVinage, director of UMD’s National Scholarships Office.
Gilman recipients are chosen through a competitive selection process. Students who are studying languages deemed critical by the State Department, such as Arabic and Chinese, can receive an additional $3,000.
One such recipient, Stephane Wouapet ’26, learned Arabic while living in Jordan. The all-day Arabic classes that Wouapet took there were comprehensive, but he said he learned the most outside of school.
“When you get out, you meet with people that speak different dialects of Arabic, so you get a more well-rounded perspective on the language and the culture,” Wouapet said. “When you get to know people, you're able to move past those stereotypes that we typically see in the media.”
As one of nine UMD students traveling to Arusha, Tanzania, last month, public health science major Ezequiel Delcid Hernandez ’27 had an even deeper engagement with the local community as he studied Swahili culture and language. He was part of a new field-based, three-week program sponsored by the Department of Family Science in the School of Public Health and Education Abroad in which students work with community organizations on issues ranging from mental health to reproductive health.
“It's not a traditional study abroad in the sense that you don’t go to another university and take a class. Instead, we're partnering with community organizations that focus on different social issues around their community,” said Hernandez. In this case, scholars lived near Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru at the United African Alliance Community Center, which was founded and facilitated by Pete and Charlotte O'Neal, Black Panthers in exile.
Pariya Ahmadi, the student who journeyed to Vietnam, also deeply appreciated the sense of cultural immersion. One of her favorite memories was coming across a wedding in a rural town and being spontaneously invited to attend as an honored guest.
“I was exposed to a country and a culture that I never would have traveled in just on my own,” she said. “I'm very, very appreciative of the opportunity.”
2024-25 UMD Gilman Scholars
Michaela Abraham ’26 (economics)
Pariya Ahmadi ’26 (environmental science and policy)
Olivia Akhtar ’27 (information science; finance)
Chigozie Amadi ’25 (public health science)
Choudelie Cadet ’27 (information systems)
Merium Easterling ’26 (information science)
Dennis Gomez ’26 (mechanical engineering)
Melannie Grageda ’26 (elementary education)
Hayrenzy Hassen ’25 (information science)
Jamie Jung ’26 (information systems)
Tabara Kaloga ’25 (family science)
Bora Keskin ’26 (accounting)
Adriana Koilpillai ’27 (public health science)
Ayushi Patel ’27 (public health science)
Oleksandra Poddubska ’26 (architecture)
Nathan Temesgen ’25 (information sciences)
Michelle Tran ’25 (biological sciences; mathematics)
Ariana Tsegai ’26 (government and politics)
Ezequiel Delcid Hernandez ’27 (public health science)
Zohneseh Fopenawoh ’25 (criminology and criminal justice; philosophy, politics and economics)
Noelia Gomez Gonzalez ’27 (architecture)
Ellie Hill ’26 (information science; public policy)
Elena Jaimes ’26 (government and politics)
Kendalyn Korth ’26 (history)
Mark Kuznik ’27 (computer engineering)
Jingyi Li ‘27 (finance)
Samantha Linares ‘27 (philosophy, politics and economics)
Beza Mangesha ‘26 (hearing and speech sciences)
Anne Mbessa ‘26 (psychology)
Heidi Nkrumah ‘27 (public health science)
Oluwatobiloba Oloye ‘26 (civil engineering)
Grace Pak ‘28 (public policy)
Radhakund Ramnarine ‘25 (criminology and criminal justice; studio art)
Sarah St Villier ‘26 (criminology and criminal justice; public policy)
Mason Stein ‘26 (mechanical engineering)
Gina Tetteh ‘27 (hearing and speech sciences)
Jadon Thomas ‘28 (information sciences)
Mellisa Tsai ‘26 (criminology and criminal justice)
Cricia Villanueva ‘26 (biological sciences)
Calvin Waller ‘26 (letters and sciences)
Ken Wei ‘26 (computer science)
This list does not include students who declined the scholarship or who asked for their names not to be published.
Topics:
Tags:
Schools & Departments: