MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Three Middle Tennessee State University students have been awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to study abroad in the coming year.

The U.S. Department of State has awarded the prestigious scholarship to approximately 1,600 American undergraduate students from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico during the fall 2024 cycle. 

Middle Tennessee State University recipients of $3,000 scholarships include:

• Ashari Leonard, a fashion merchandising major from Columbia, Tennessee, will study abroad in Japan, immersing herself in the country’s vibrant fashion industry.
• Ariel Nicastro, a physics major and Honors student from Franklin, will study abroad in Argentina. “This scholarship will greatly reduce how much I spend on this experience,” Nicastro said.
• Qadria Wade, a speech/language pathology and audiology major from Goodlettsville, will study in the United Kingdom. She expressed gratitude for the support she received, saying, “Thank you to (International Fellowships and Honors College coordinator) Laura Clippard for her help with my essay.”

“The Office of Education Abroad is proud to celebrate our students who have been awarded the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. This outstanding achievement will create exciting global opportunities and enhance their educational experiences,” said Paige Brake, director of Education Abroad at MTSU.

The Gilman scholarship program supports U.S. students studying or interning abroad, fostering cross-cultural exchange and academic development. The fall 2024 cohort of Gilman Scholars will study or intern in over 90 countries worldwide and represent more than 500 U.S. colleges and universities. 

The Gilman Scholarship, an initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, is funded by the U.S. Congress and implemented by the Institute of International Education. Since its establishment in 2001, the program has supported over 44,000 scholars, enabling them to study or intern in more than 170 countries.

The program broadens the student population that studies and interns abroad by providing awards to outstanding undergraduates who may not otherwise participate due to financial constraints. The program aims to diversify the students who study abroad and the countries and regions where they go.

For more information about study abroad opportunities and scholarship resources at MTSU, contact the Office of Education Abroad or visit mtsu.studioabroad.com, or contact Laura Clippard in the Undergraduate Fellowships Office at laura.clippard@mtsu.edu.  

— Robin E. Lee (Robin.E.Lee@mtsu.edu)