Maryland Student Wins Gilman Scholarship to Study in Thailand

Levi Cavaleri spent his entire life on Maryland's Eastern Shore, watching the same ecosystems and dreaming of opportunities that felt just out of reach. This summer, the Salisbury University junior is heading to Thailand after earning the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship from the U.S. Department of State.

For Cavaleri, an environmental studies major from Fruitland, studying abroad once seemed financially impossible. As a Pell Grant recipient who works as a resident assistant during the school year, his schedule and budget were stretched thin.

"I've wanted to study abroad for a long time, but financially it didn't seem realistic," Cavaleri said. "The Gilman Scholarship made this opportunity possible in a way it hadn't been before."

The scholarship will fund his participation in a "Practical Sustainability and Biodiversity" program in one of the world's most biologically diverse regions. He'll get hands-on experience studying tropical ecosystems, coastal environments, and conservation efforts that are worlds apart from his Maryland home.

Cavaleri is particularly excited to learn about human-wildlife coexistence, especially programs addressing human-elephant interactions. He wants to understand how communities find solutions that benefit both people and animals, knowledge he plans to bring back to his future environmental work.

This trip marks another first for Cavaleri: it's his first time leaving the United States. He sees the experience as essential preparation for thinking globally about environmental challenges.

The Ripple Effect

Cavaleri's journey extends beyond one summer abroad. He's already planning his next international step, applying for a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Taiwan after graduation.

"This experience will help me grow academically and personally," he said. "It will prepare me for future opportunities like Fulbright and give me the confidence to work internationally."

The Gilman Scholarship exists specifically to open these doors for students like Cavaleri. The nationally competitive program supports undergraduates of limited financial means who might otherwise miss out on study abroad opportunities.

Current Pell Grant recipients at colleges nationwide can apply for Gilman funding twice yearly, with deadlines in October and March. Programs like this prove that financial barriers don't have to mean missed opportunities.

From Maryland's Eastern Shore to Thailand's tropical forests, Cavaleri is proof that the right support can transform what seems impossible into reality.