Five students from the University of Southern Mississippi have been awarded the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, which supports diverse students studying abroad. The recipients include Spencer Barbier, who will be student teaching in Greece; Lillian Baxter, participating in an international exchange program in Swansea, Wales; Faith Holloway, who will engage in a partner program in Italy; Daniel Norris, focusing on crime and politics in Ireland and Northern Ireland; and Arianna Tate, who will explore business and culture in Japan [7493d51b].
The Gilman Program, established in 2001, aims to broaden the participation of underrepresented students in study abroad programs and has significantly impacted the lives of many students. Jessica Bunales, a representative of the program, highlighted the transformative experiences that the scholarship provides, while Mary Beard, another advocate, commended the awardees and encouraged future applicants to consider this opportunity for personal and professional growth [7493d51b].
In a related initiative, Mid Ulster students from Northern Ireland are also embarking on a US scholarship programme organized by the Washington Ireland Program (WIP). This programme, which has been running for over 25 years, promotes peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland and provides students with the chance to spend eight weeks in the US, gaining work experience and participating in community service projects [1fa44cda]. The students will engage with political leaders and influential figures, further enhancing their personal and professional development [1fa44cda].