DAHLONEGA, GA — Kimberly Burns of Boston and seven other UNG students were awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. The program enables students who are eligible for the Pell grant to study or intern abroad for at least three weeks and gain skills critical to national security and economic competitiveness.

The eight UNG students will have unique experiences in seven countries.

Kimberly Burns, pursuing a degree in East Asian Studies with a concentration in Chinese, plans to study in Taiwan.

Makae Bythewood, pursuing a degree in elementary and special education, plans to study in New Zealand.

Caleb Brooks, pursuing a degree in film and digital media with a media studies concentration, plans to study in Japan.

Stephanie Castillo, pursuing a degree in psychology, plans to study in Australia.

Haley Menees, pursuing a degree in biology, plans to study in Peru.

Hannah Menees, pursuing a degree in biology, plans to study in Peru.

Maggie Simmons, a junior pursuing a degree in modern languages with a concentration in Chinese for global professionals, plans to study in China.

Philip Weed, pursuing a degree in cybersecurity, plans to study in Jordan.

Dr. Kathryn Quinto, fellowships adviser for the nationally competitive scholarships office at UNG, said that the Gilman scholarship provides students like Burns and Simmons the opportunity to learn about another culture and language through an immersive experience.

“This helps broaden their perspective and strengthens their intercultural communication skills,” she said. “It also helps them to be more competitive for graduate school and in their future careers.”

Quinto also credits the Center for Global Engagement (CGE) for promoting the study abroad programs in the new virtual environment and helping students find their ideal situation.

“CGE has been amazing in their outreach and support for students,” Quinto said. “We collaborate with colleagues in CGE to advise students during each step of the application process.”

Students interested in learning more about nationally competitive scholarships, including 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.

Positioned in the fastest-growing region of the state, the University of North Georgia comprises five campuses united by a single mission focused on academic excellence and academic and co-curricular programs that develop students into leaders for a diverse and global society. The University of North Georgia is a University System of Georgia leadership institution and is The Military College of Georgia. With more than 20,000 students, the University of North Georgia is one of the state’s largest public universities. The university offers more than 100 programs of study ranging from certificate and associate degrees to professional doctoral programs.