2 undergraduates selected for Gilman Scholarships

Two Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts undergraduates were among 30 at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln who earned Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships to support credit-bearing study abroad, internship abroad or virtual international opportunities between spring 2021 and Dec. 31, 2021.

The Gilman is a nationally competitive scholarship awarded twice a year by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and administered by the Institute of International Education. Students may apply several months in advance of their program, allowing them to finalize their education abroad plans with the reassurance of funding. Between the October 2019 and March 2020 cycles, 47 Nebraska students were awarded, surpassing Nebraska’s previous record of 34 recipients in 2017-18.

Following are the two Hixson-Lied College Gilman Scholars with hometown, year in school, major and intended country of study:

• Nick Barber, Lincoln, junior, art, Turkey.
• Alyssa Soppe, Omaha, senior, music education, Spain.

The Gilman scholarship supports underrepresented undergraduates who might not otherwise participate due to financial constraints, and aims to encourage students to study and intern in a diverse array of countries and to study languages — especially critical need languages. According to the Gilman program, more than 7,000 applicants were reviewed for the March 2020 cycle, and more than 2,500 students were offered awards.

Gilman Scholars receive up to $5,000 to apply toward program costs.

In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Gilman program is allowing recipients to use their scholarships to pursue online courses or virtual intensive language programs at an institution based outside of the United States, virtual faculty-led study abroad programs or virtual international internships.

To learn more about the Gilman scholarship and additional funding options available to Husker students going abroad, visit https://educationabroad.unl.edu/scholarships.