MARQUETTE, Mich.—Three Northern Michigan University students received the Benjamin E. Gilman Award for study abroad this semester. All hail from Michigan. The recipients are Laura Judge of Dewitt, Tyria Newman of Mount Morris and Kalil Zender of Marquette.

            Judge is an environmental science and Spanish major. She was awarded $4,000 for her semester studies and volunteer service at Centro Tinku, Cusco, Peru. Judge received additional support for her trip through a $1,000 Louise M. Bourgault Memorial International Scholarship, named for the late NMU communications professor.

“Receiving the Gilman Scholarship means that I am no longer worried about the added expenses that come with studying abroad,” said Judge. “I can go abroad now without adding any extra financial burden to myself, my student loans or my family. It’s a great feeling.”

            Newman, a general studies major, received $5,000 for her semester program in Seoul, South Korea.

“Winning the Gilman Scholarship makes me more than happy,” she said. “It's a huge help for my trip.”

Zender is also a general studies major. She was awarded $8,000 for her semester program in Meknes, Morocco, which includes a $3,000 critical need language supplement to support her studies in the Arabic language.   

"Winning this scholarship means I will be able to live the dream that has been a part of me since I was a tiny child,” said Zender.

The Gilman Award program aims to support a diverse range of students who have been traditionally under-represented in study abroad.