Two Kansas State University students receive Gilman International Scholarship
Thursday, March 15, 2018
MANHATTAN — Two Kansas State University students have received the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to study abroad in summer 2018.
Thomas Meek, sophomore in personal financial planning, Topeka, will study in Heredia, Costa Rica. Crystal Miller, senior in family science and human development, Las Vegas, will study in Bangalore, India. The scholarship awards each student up to $5,000.
Congressionally funded and established by the International Academic Opportunity Act of 2000, the Gilman Scholarship Program helps U.S. undergraduate students at two-year or four-year colleges or universities participate in study abroad programs worldwide.
Meek will take Spanish language classes with the Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica and participate in the country's cultural activities.
"This scholarship is important to me because it gives me the ability to study abroad," Meek said. "This will be my first time out of the United States, and I am very excited to not only visit a foreign country, but also to be fully immersed in the Costa Rican culture."
Meek also has received the K-State Study Abroad Planning Scholarship and was invited to present his research on the benefits of using music to improve language skills at the modern languages department's Initials Student Research Forum. He is a member of the Financial Planning Association and student advisory board for Powercat Financial. A graduate of Washburn Rural High School, he is the son of Aaron and Hollie Meek, Topeka.
While in India, Miller will volunteer for humanitarian aid work and teach English classes. As a child, Miller had experience with living below the poverty line and said she wants to help people in India because of its high poverty rate.
"Educating the people of India to be vigilant and teaching them skills to sustain themselves in the economy is pertinent to eradicating poverty," said Miller, who is a licensed substitute teacher and paraprofessional. "I plan on complete interaction and humanitarian aid in the local community as well as trying to be the change I want to see in the world."
In addition to the Gilman, Miller has received the Flint Hills Veterans Scholarship, Arthur and Mary Davis Scholarship, Division of Continuing Education for Distance Education Scholarship, Vanier Family Scholarship and Allan D. Sicat Scholarship. She was named the university's education abroad student of the month and is a member of Delta Alpha Pi International Honor Society. A graduate of Edward W. Clark High School, she is the daughter of Gretchen Myers, Las Vegas.
For students interested in education abroad opportunities, the next Gilman Scholarship application deadline is Oct. 2 for spring and summer 2019. For more information about the Gilman or other education abroad opportunities, contact Sara Boro, education abroad advisor, at seboro@k-state.edu.
