News & Recipients
Record 61 USF Students Receive Prestigious Gilman Scholarship
2019-2020 Gilman Scholars Caroline Haidinger and Sarah Mohamed. Haidinger and Mohamed plan to study in Italy.
A University of South Florida (USF) record 61 students were recognized as recipients of the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for study abroad in the 2019-20 academic year, more than any other university in Florida. Selected from nearly 12,000 applicants nationwide, USF students were offered scholarships totaling $195,500 to support courses, internships, and language training in 16 countries. An additional 30 students were recognized as alternates for an award. Following recognition as a “Greatest Growth” institution by the Gilman Scholarship for the 2017-18 academic year, USF continues to be one of the top-performing universities in the nation for Gilman Scholarship recipients.
Funded by the U.S. Department of State, the Gilman Scholarship program supports internships or study abroad programs for undergraduate Pell Grant recipients. Since 2001, the program has enabled more than 31,000 Americans to study in
151 countries. Recipients represent diverse backgrounds including ethnic minority students, students with disabilities, and first-generation college students.
Despite most study abroad programs being canceled or delayed due to Covid-19, many recipients will still have the opportunity to utilize the funding to go abroad in 2021 thanks to the flexibility of the Gilman Scholarship. Students are eager, as they now have the ability to make new plans knowing they have funding secured almost a full year in advance. The USF Office of National Scholars and USF World teams will be working closely with the recipients to help make sure they are able to utilize their awards in ways that support their academic and professional goals.
Two recipients – Alexia Boykin and Janna Ramos Ramos – were recognized as Gilman-McCain Scholars. The Gilman-McCain Scholarship provides awards to undergraduate child dependents of active duty service members. “As an active duty military dependent and one of four siblings, I am humbled to be considered for this opportunity to study marketing in Italy. It will undoubtedly allow me to gain a valuable perspective,” said Ramos Ramos. “I am passionate to take the marketing skills I learn as a McCain Scholar and promote environmentally and socially responsible initiatives globally in my future career.”
Students who are considering studying abroad in 2021 are encouraged to work with the Office of National Scholars prior to the next Gilman Scholarship deadline in early October.
The following students were awarded the Gilman Scholarship:
Mohammed Alogaidi - Thailand
Melissa Barberan - Italy
Consuelo Blake - United Kingdom
Ketia Blanc - United Kingdom
Jessica Blatz - Peru
Alexia Boykin - Italy
Sara Cardona - Italy
Curtis Carroll - Cuba
Sujey Coloma - Italy
Sydney Connor - France
Angelina Corchado - United Kingdom
Mary Cruz - Italy
Joshua Dale - Italy
Justyce Davis - Italy
Silvia Diaz - Spain
Brynne Dilworth - Italy
Kristhian Estrada - Czech Republic
Francisca Farias - United Kingdom
Alana Fay - United Kingdom
Carlos Gamez - Italy
Marcela Gonzalez - France
Laureano Griffin - United Kingdom
Melanie Guerra - Costa Rica
Timothy Hagen - Thailand
Caroline Haidinger - Italy
Paula Hernandez - United Kingdom
Vonda Hopkins - Czech Republic
Ellis Kelly - Italy
Jaqueria Lacy - Italy
Gabriella Lang - Italy
Luke Longo - United Kingdom
Kelli Lynch - Germany
Samuel Marquina - Italy
Sarah Mohamed - Italy
Elizabeth Moran-Williams - Colombia
Catherin Munguia - Costa Rica
Elijah Murphy - Italy
Hana Newberry - Japan
Lina Nguyen - United Kingdom
Melissa Pennell - Dominican Republic
Makeba Phillip - Italy
Jesse Popover - United Kingdom
Chloe Rafer - Italy
Leticia Ramirez - France
Janna Ramos Ramos - Italy
Alexandra Rodier - Australia
Kendra Saint-Elus - Italy
Kenya Sanchez Torres - Peru
Israa Saoud - Italy
Laila Schulz - United Kingdom
Jessica Senatus - Singapore
Kaeleigh Skinner - South Korea
Alondra Soto - Colombia
William Steck - Costa Rica
Akeymah Stitt - Italy
Bao Tran - Italy
Vincent Uong - Italy
Jeremy Van Osten - Italy
Daniela Vergaray - Spain
Richard Verna - Japan
Melanie Zapata - Thailand
The following students were named alternates and may receive the scholarship if additional funding becomes available:
Julia Allen - France, United Kingdom
Isabel Benitez - United Kingdom
Quinlan Brock - Italy
Amaline Chraibi - France
Keara Darcy - United Kingdom
Summer Devlin - Spain
Brionna Dupree - United Kingdom
Casey Finley - United Kingdom
Gabriella Frongillo - United Kingdom
Rachelle Gonzalez - United Kingdom
Kayla Halls - United Kingdom
Michelle Hussey - United Kingdom
Emma Jacobs - Costa Rica
Zoran Knezevic - Italy
Macy Kuhn - Italy
Colette Max - Italy
Sarah Mohamed – Italy (named alternate in December and recipient in July)
Carlos Morin - Germany
Lina Nguyen - United Kingdom (named alternate in December and recipient in July)
Kayla Paulino - United Kingdom
Brittany Pearson - United Kingdom
Ariel Pena Vega - Italy
Camryn Pike - Czech Republic
Catherine Poviones - United Kingdom
Khali Robinson - France
Elane Roopnarain - Italy
John Stewart - Sweden
Sabrina Thirunayagam - United Kingdom
Vanessa Torres - Italy
Victoria Yang - Italy