“I’ve always dreamed of studying abroad and never thought that I would be able to afford it, being a first-generation and low-income student, as well as being a student with a disability. I am very grateful for the Gilman Scholarship for giving me this opportunity.” --  Stephanie Jorgensen, major: music; study abroad program: Czechia: Recording Studio in Prague

An all-time high of nine University of Colorado Denver students have been awarded grants from the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program. This number represents the talents and hard work of CU Denver’s students; it also reflects the behind-the-scenes efforts of dedicated staff in the Global Education: Study Abroad, Writing Center, and Career Services offices and faculty.

ABOUT THE GILMAN SCHOLARSHIP

Established by the U.S. Congress, the Gilman Scholarship is an initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and is aided in its implementation by the Institute of International Education. During the 2024-2025 academic year, the Gilman Program received a record 17,000 applications for this competitive, merit-based scholarship, 25% more applications as compared to the previous year.      

Gilman awardees return to communities across the United States with the enhanced global networks and foreign language skills that are needed to support U.S. economic and national security interests. The Gilman scholarship provides support to undergraduate students with high financial need to study or intern abroad; 55% of recipients are first-generation college students.

“Receiving a Gilman scholarship can be a life-changing moment. At the University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus, we’re keenly focused on bringing study abroad within reach for every student in our diverse student population, including first-generation, veterans, transfers, and students with family financial needs.” said Alana Jones, Associate Vice Chancellor, International Affairs. “Throughout the years, the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program has enabled our students to take a deep dive into international studies, research, and transformative experiential learning in places around the world -- Argentina, Italy, Japan, Korea, Morocco, Spain, to name a few. We are grateful for the Gilman Program and its support in preparing CU Denver | Anschutz students for successful careers and for their roles as today’s global citizens.”

A VARIETY OF GLOBAL DESTINATIONS

The nine awardees enthusiastically enrolled in a CU Denver study abroad program taking place from Summer 2025 through Spring 2026; programs offer options of two to three weeks of studies and research abroad, as well as a full semester. The Gilman recipients’ interests covered a wide range of topics and locations: political science in Korea, architecture in Italy, biology in Costa Rica, modern and ancient history in Japan, music recording arts in Czechia, finance in Germany, and math in China.

“My experience was phenomenal. It was my first time navigating a different country on my own and it definitely motivated me to search for other opportunities to try and get a similar experience again in the future,” said Djaka Doukoure, who is majoring in business. Doukoure chose to study abroad on a program that focused on political science, Korea Goes Global.

“Another one of my favorite highlights definitely had to be getting the opportunity to tour inside Korea’s National Assembly Building which is where the South Korean Parliament discusses state affairs,” she added.

TIPS ON APPLYING

Students who are considering applying for a Gilman scholarship should plan their application a year in advance. They need to pinpoint their area of study, the intended study abroad program that aligns with their objectives, and be able to articulate the reasons why the program would be beneficial to their academic and professional goals.

Typically, applications for Gilman awards are more competitive if the study abroad program is to a less-traveled destination. However, some countries have begun to co-fund students’ study abroad program with the Gilman organization; New Zealand Is an example.

“Unless we directly tell students about study abroad scholarships, they often don’t know of these opportunities,” said Emily Wheeler, Global Education Program Manager. Awareness efforts from the study abroad team are data-driven and occur year round. They team send e-communications informing students about available scholarships, application deadlines, and surveys to gather feedback from all CU Denver | Anschutz students who have studied abroad.

The CU Denver | Anschutz Writing Center assists students with both internal and external scholarships. For students returning from a study abroad program, the Career Center and Global Education: Study Abroad offices collaborate in supporting students’ career competencies and teach them how to express learning outcomes on a CV/resume or in a job interview.

“You need to do a lot of writing for the Gilman scholarship, and it can be hard knowing how to structure each of your essays,” explained Analuisa Larson, who is majoring in biology. “Luckily, the Study Abroad team has many presentations and resources that gave me a good sense of direction.” She added, “I also highly recommend sending in your first draft to the Writing Center. My first application actually failed the first round in October, but after implementing the Writing Center’s feedback, I was able to get accepted in March.” Lason’s choice of study abroad programs was Japan: Ancient and Modern.

FACULTY ARE #1 MARKETER

When getting the word out about scholarships and study abroad program opportunities, “faculty are our #1 marketers,” Wheeler commented. “They are ‘on the ground’ talking to students; they can give subject-related details about the value of a study abroad experience.”

There are many faculty-led study abroad programs at CU Denver | Anschutz. Wheeler and Nicole Herrin, Global Education Program Manager, developed and launched the Global Study Design Lab (GSDL), an innovative, cohort based approach to faculty engagement. The Global Study Design Lab is a four-part workshop for faculty interested in developing a study abroad program with sessions covering the proposal process, budgets, risk management, and logistics. This work, and the work of the entire study abroad team, led to an outcome of nine new proposals for study abroad programs, amounting to 28 programs through Summer 2026. 

STAY INFORMED

The next application cycle for the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship is open. To learn more about the Gilman Scholarship, visit gilmanscholarship.org.  

Join  the Global Ed Champion Network to receive a semi-annual email update.

For more information, contact:

• Alana Jones, Associate Vice Chancellor, University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus; [email protected]; 303.315.0036
• Andrew Wingfield, Director, Global Education: Study Abroad, University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus; [email protected], 303.315.0334
• Emily Wheeler, Global Education Program Manager; [email protected], 303.315.0209
• Study Abroad office: [email protected]; 303.315.2001

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THROUGHOUT THE YEARS

Throughout the years, students at the University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus have benefited from the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program; read their stories in the Office of International Affairs International Newsroom:

More Gilman Scholarships Available for Studying Abroad 5 CU Denver Awardees for Summer Study Abroad Programs

Study Abroad: Within Your Reach

CU Denver Student Awarded Prestigious Gilman Scholarship

Retracing Her Japanese Cultural Heritage

Gilman Scholarship Winner Stella Yuan

Gilman Scholarship Recipients

Lateefah Young – South Korea

CU Denver student wins Gilman and Freeman Asia scholarships for semester in Korea