12 students receive Gilman scholarships to study abroad

University of North Georgia (UNG) student Ketsia Malala has set a goal to speak the Korean language fluently in three months. She is likely to accomplish that task.

The senior pursuing a management degree will spend three months in South Korea as part of a study abroad program with funding from two scholarships. The first is a Fund for Education Abroad scholarship awarded to her earlier this year. The second is the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship that she received this month.

"It felt so good to receive the Gilman scholarship," the 21-year-old from Buford, Georgia, said. "Having it eases my financial burden, because it will pay for the whole program and my airplane ticket."

Providing up to $5,000, the Gilman scholarship enables U.S. undergraduate students who are eligible for the Pell grant to study or intern abroad and gain skills critical to national security and economic competitiveness.

Malala was one of 12 UNG students awarded the nationally competitive scholarship on Dec. 8. The other early Gilman recipients are:

• Megan Marrero-Castillo, a junior pursuing a degree in computer science, will study in the United Kingdom. The resident of Gainesville, Georgia, attends the Dahlonega Campus.
• Hannah Menees, a senior pursuing a degree in biology, will study in Peru. The resident of Cumming, Georgia, is a member of the Honors Program on the Gainesville Campus.
• Haley Menees, a senior pursuing a degree in biology, will study in Peru. The resident of Cumming, Georgia, is a member of the Honors Program on the Gainesville Campus.

• Alyssa Miller, a junior pursuing a degree in Spanish language and literature, will study in Spain. The resident of Covington, Georgia, attends the Dahlonega Campus.
• Noemi Nolasco, a junior pursuing a degree in Spanish language and literature, will study in Spain. The resident of Clayton County, Georgia, is the president of the Latin American Student Organization on the Dahlonega Campus.
• Hyunbean Park, a sophomore pursuing a degree in international affairs, will study in Germany. The resident of Suwanee, Georgia, is a member of the Corps of Cadets on the Dahlonega Campus.
• Anthony Pena-Casas, a senior pursuing a degree in English, will study in Japan. The resident of Bishop, Georgia, is a member of the Corps of Cadets on the Dahlonega Campus.
• Caleb Petersen, a sophomore pursuing a degree in cybersecurity, will study in Japan. The resident of Buford, Georgia, is a member of the Honors Program on the Gainesville Campus.
• Rocio Sanchez, a senior pursuing a degree in Chinese, will study in Taiwan. The resident of Gainesville, Georgia, is a member of the Chinese Language Flagship program on the Dahlonega Campus.
• Maggie Simmons, a senior pursuing a degree in Chinese, will study in Taiwan. The resident of Snellville, Georgia, is a member of the Chinese Language Flagship program on the Dahlonega Campus.
• Cali Weed, a junior pursuing a degree in kinesiology, will study in Peru. The resident of Commerce, Georgia, attends the Dahlonega Campus.

The dozen early recipients marked a new record for UNG. The previous record of students earning the early Gilman was 11 in December 2019. Last year, eight students received the scholarship early.

"We are very excited about this record number of Gilman recipients who applied by the October deadline," Dr. Kathryn Quinto, fellowships adviser for the Nationally Competitive Scholarships (NCS) office at UNG, said. "We hope this encourages more UNG students to study abroad and seek nationally competitive scholarships because UNG students are amazing."

Park attributes his success to a trio at UNG: Dr. Victoria Hightower, assistant director of the NCS and professor of history; Terry Baumann, assistant director of global military programs; and Phillip Ly, a senior pursuing a degree in strategic and security studies who has won three study abroad scholarships, including the Gilman.

"I would not have gotten here without these three people," Park said. "I am thankful that I met them, because they have mentored me throughout the application process."

Students interested in learning more about nationally competitive scholarships, including the Gilman, should contact ncs@ung.edu for more information. Students interested in learning about study abroad opportunities through various programs may visit UNG's Center for Global Engagement.