Four students receive Gilman Scholarships for international study
Friday, Jan. 25, 2019
MANHATTAN — Four Kansas State University students have received Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships to study abroad during the spring 2019 semester or summer 2019.
Kourtney Talkington, junior in nutrition and health, Ellis; Annabelle Burtnett, sophomore in anthropology, Pleasanton; Bailey Martin, senior in electrical engineering, Wichita; and Pranav Savanur, sophomore in biology and pre-med, India,will receive up to $5,000 to study abroad.
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.
Talkington will study food, wine and drawing in Orvieto, Italy, in summer 2019. As a nontraditional student through K-State Global Campus, she is a member of Phi Theta Kappa and volunteered for the Susan G. Komen 2018 Walk/Run fundraiser. In addition to the Gilman, she has received the Scott Human Nutrition Scholarship, Evans Health Scholarship, Global Campus Scholarship for Distance Education Students, and Food, Nutrition, Dietetics and Health Scholarship.
"This international experience means a lot to me," Talkington said. "It will give me time to do some personal growth away from my children, change how I view everyday life, and set me apart from other students. My children are my world and I want to show them that anything is possible no matter what life throws at you and they can achieve anything if they work hard enough for it."
Burtnett will study paleoanthropology and archaeology at the Paleoanthropological Field School at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, during summer 2019. Olduvai Gorge is known for its fossil remains that have contributed to the study of early humans. In addition to the Gilman scholarship, she has received Foundation Plus Scholarship.
"I am honored to not only have been accepted into my field school of choice but to have also received the Gilman to help pay for the program," Burtnett said. "This field school and the Gilman award have given me the perfect chance to jump-start my academic and eventually professional career."
Martin will study electrical engineering at the Czech Technical University in the Czech Republic for the spring 2019 semester. She was the 2017-2018 electrical design leader for Powercat Motorsports and is a teaching assistant for Introduction to Electrical Engineering. In addition to the Gilman scholarship, she has received an Engineering Leadership and Innovation Program Scholarship.
"I am very grateful that I received this opportunity and look forward to the opportunities that come from being a Gilman scholar," Martin said. "I am looking forward to getting to know people of all different backgrounds and cultures while abroad."
Savanur will study life sciences at the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom for the spring 2019 semester. During the 2018-2019 winter break, he participated in Kansas State University's Alternative Break program to promote rural public health in Allen County. He is the public relations officer for the Indian Students Association at the university, Wellcat ambassador for Lafene Health Center, student ambassador for Housing and Dining Services, International Student Welcome ambassador, and vice president of the West Hall Council for the Association of Resident Halls. In addition to the Gilman scholarship, he has received a Memorial Scholarship.
"It is my goal to be a medical anthropologist and work in countries where doctors are needed the most but cannot afford quality care," Savanur said. "This scholarship will enable me to achieve my goals by giving me an opportunity for research in University of Liverpool's Tropical medicine department."
The next Gilman Scholarship application deadline is March 5 for students planning to go abroad during the summer or fall 2019 terms. If you are interested in learning more about this prestigious scholarship and how to get started with your application, please attend the Gilman Scholarship Workshop at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7, in the Room 206 of the K-State Student Union or email Sara Boro, education abroad advisor, at seboro@k-state.edu.
