June 01, 2021

Nine Susquehanna University students have been awarded the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, a U.S. Department of State grant program that enables U.S. students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad.

The following students plan to study abroad in person either this summer or during the fall 2021 semester:

• Deven Dancy ’22, a psychology major from New Columbia, Pennsylvania, will study in Ghana.
• Kelly Dimarzio ’23, a psychology major from King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, will study in Cyprus.
• Gabrielle Fitzgerald ’23, a psychology and theatre double major from Dallas, Pennsylvania, will study in Ireland.
• Hannah Graf ’23, an anthropology major from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, will study in South Korea.
• Samantha Heckler-O’Connor, ’23, a triple major in creative writing, publishing and editing and German studies, from Boyertown, Pennsylvania, will study in Germany.
• Abigail Hogan ’22, a biology major from West Chester, Pennsylvania, will study in South Korea.
• Marcellus Martin ’22, a business administration major from Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, will study in Spain.
• Claire Mulkey ’22, a finance major from Lewistown, Pennsylvania, will study in Italy.
• Natalie Santos ’22, a biomedical sciences and Spanish studies double major from Freeland, Pennsylvania, will study in Spain.

The Gilman Program was paused through December 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, as of Jan. 1, 2021, the program again began supporting travel under its long-standing policy of allowing students to study or intern in locations with Level 1 or Level 2 Travel Advisories only. 

Only about 25% of semester program applicants receive an award. More than 30 Susquehanna students have been awarded the scholarship since 2015. The university has a dedicated program in place to identify and mentor students throughout the application process for Gilman and other prestigious scholarships.

“The teamwork of faculty and staff in the Career Development Center, Global Opportunities and Student Financial Services has contributed to our success with the Gilman program,” said Karol Weaver, professor of history and faculty coordinator for fellowship advising. “These students also worked very hard and their excitement was apparent. They attended workshops, scheduled one-on-one meetings and revised their applications to ensure they were putting their best self forward.”

The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship enables students to gain skills critical to our national security and economic prosperity. The Institute of International Education has administered the program since its inception in 2001. Gilman scholars receive up to $5,000 to apply toward their study abroad or internship program costs.

Scholarship recipients gain a better understanding of other cultures, countries, languages and economies — making them better prepared to assume leadership roles within government and the private sector.