Seven UMKC students are Gilman Scholarship Recipients

A record seven University of Missouri-Kansas City undergraduates have received Gilman Study Abroad Scholarships for summer 2014, with another student named as an alternate. A total of $21,500 will help them with expenses.

One group, led by Matthew Edwards, Foreign Languages and Literature professor, is headed to Argentina this summer. The group includes Benjamin Bachwirtz, Victoria Clark, Christenio Collins, Maritza Gordillo, Araba Kuofie and Coleen Solomon. Taylor Smith will study in Costa Rica, and Alia Wheeler is an alternate to France.

A record 16 UMKC students applied this year. They credit Edwards’ energetic recruiting and the coaching of International Academic Programs staff member Emma Spong. Gilman scholarships are awarded to Pell Grant recipients who plan to study for four weeks or more in an approved Study Abroad program. The program is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State.

The goal of the scholarship program is to foster mutual understanding between the people of the United States and people around the world. No less importantly, the program chooses diverse students, particularly undergraduates who might have financial limitations, to go to countries that are rare study-abroad destinations