22 UConn Students Win $75K for Study Abroad Dreams

For students who dream of studying abroad but worry about the price tag, twenty-two UConn undergraduates just got life-changing news. They've earned prestigious Gilman Scholarships totaling more than $75,000 to study in countries spanning four continents.

The scholarships, funded by Congress through the State Department, exist for one powerful reason: to help students with high financial need access experiences that were once reserved for wealthier peers. Every recipient is a Pell Grant recipient, meaning they come from families earning less than $50,000 annually.

Fifteen students received awards in the latest round, bringing nearly $47,500 in funding with them to ten different countries. Six scholars come from UConn's regional campuses, proving that opportunity is reaching students beyond the main Storrs location.

The destinations read like a geography lesson in global education. Aaliyah Persad studied Korean language in Seoul through a special Critical Language Need Award. Lilliana Gluzak will research chemical engineering at the University of Queensland in Australia. Kecelia Hill heads to South Africa to study field ecology this summer.

"The beauty of the Gilman Scholarship is that it allows students to study abroad who might otherwise not be able to," says Michael Cunningham, assistant director of UConn's Office of National Scholarships and Fellowships. His office works alongside Experiential Global Learning advisors to guide students through the competitive application process.

The Ripple Effect

These scholarships don't just change individual lives. Each Gilman Scholar must complete a service project when they return, sharing their experience with other students and promoting study abroad opportunities. That means twenty-two students become twenty-two ambassadors, inspiring classmates who might think international education isn't for them.

The program specifically targets students historically underrepresented in study abroad: first-generation college students, STEM majors, ethnic and racial minorities, students with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ students. This year's national cohort includes recipients from all fifty states.

Raquel Kupstis, an advisor in Experiential Global Learning, highlights what makes these scholars special. "These students are not only preparing for transformative experiences abroad, but are also thinking critically about how they will share those experiences with others when they return to campus."

The scholarships fund everything from semester-long programs to summer intensive language courses to international internships. Students will return with language skills, cross-cultural competence, and global perspectives that make them stronger candidates in an interconnected job market.

Twenty-two students are packing their bags and opening their minds, proving that financial barriers don't have to limit global dreams.