Five º¬Ð߲ݴ«Ã½ University students have each been awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. The award will send each student overseas during the 2012-2013 academic year.
Tram Kieu of Lincoln, Morgan McKinley of Omaha, Carol Ready of Scribner, Leron West of St. Louis, Mo., and Said Velazquez of El Paso, Texas, were each awarded the highly competitive national scholarship. The award assists with study abroad expenses.
Kieu is a senior global studies major. She will spend the fall semester at Thammasat University in Thailand where she will study Thai language, international politics, and foreign relations. While in Thailand, Kieu plans to establish a pen pal program between Thammasat University students and a Lincoln Buddhist youth group. She hopes to one day be a Foreign Service officer specializing in the Southeast Asia region.
Ready is a junior Spanish and communication major who will spend the 2012-2013 academic year in Spain. While there she will study translation, interpretation, linguistics and history. Ready spent six weeks last summer in Alicante, Spain, for an intensive Spanish language program. She hopes to become a Spanish professor.
West is a senior anthropology/sociology major. He will spend the fall semester at the University of Botswana studying anthropology, history and criminal justice. While in Botswana, West plans to volunteer at orphanages and become involved in the university’s dance troop.
Velazquez will spend a year Morocco. The junior French and global studies major will study French and Arabic, Middle East history, European economics, and film. He chose to study in Morocco for the opportunity to study two languages. Velazquez hopes to one day work for an American embassy abroad.
McKinley is a junior sociology/anthropology and Spanish major. She has been awarded a Gilman Scholarship to Argentina. McKinley is interested in Latin American cultures and plan to pursue a career as a cultural anthropologist.
Gilman scholars are required to carry out a service project that promotes international education and the Gilman Scholarship Program.
º¬Ð߲ݴ«Ã½ University students have won a total of 25 Gilman Scholarships since the award was created in 2001.