by Elise Goitia '18

Seven Knox students received Benjamin Gilman International Scholarships during the 2016-17 academic year. The scholarship helps defray the cost of study abroad in places around the world, including Korea, Germany, Thailand, and Peru.

"This opens up the transforming possibilities of international education to students who would be otherwise seriously strained in affording the costs," said director of the Eleanor Stellyes Center for Global Studies Bren Tooley. "This program changes lives."

The Gilman scholarship, sponsored by the U.S. Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, enables academically strong students with financial need to pursue academic interests and internships abroad by defraying study abroad costs.

There have been 22 competitive Gilman Scholarships awarded to Knox students in the last four years. "Our students' success in receiving Gilman Scholarships is evidence of the seriousness of their interest in international study and their academic preparedness for this study," said Tooley.

Gilman Award criteria include academic achievement, financial need, and a compelling presentation about the choice of program and its connection with graduate study and career aspirations.

Keara Crook '19 had an internship last summer in Thailand, where she learned about the care and conservation of Asian elephants. 

"If the opportunity to apply for the Gilman Scholarship wasn't available, all hope for studying in Thailand would've been thrown out the window," said Crook.

"In most of my biology courses, I've had the ability to pick a topic to pursue research," she added. "Because of that, I've been able to focus on elephants, and that made me feel confident in this opportunity."

2016-17 Gilman Scholars

• Ngan Le: Korea
• Donald Harris: China
• Lillian Sronkoski: India
• Karen Lynch: Jordan
• Caroline Dzik: Argentina
• Alexis Bell: Germany
• Keara Crook: Thailand