Four Goshen College students awarded Gilman Scholarships for semester abroad

by Sadie Brenneman ’25

Four Goshen College students were awarded a Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship from the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs to study abroad for a semester this year through the college’s Study-Service Term (SST).

The recipients include:

• Orlando Aguirre-Mulatto, a sophomore molecular biology and biochemistry major from Shelbyville, Indiana. Aguirre-Mulatto will use the scholarship to study abroad in Ecuador.
• Courtney Templeton, a junior film production major from St. Louis, Missouri. Templeton used the scholarship to study abroad in Indonesia.
• Brandon Jimenez, a junior peace, justice and conflict studies major from Wellman, Iowa. Jimenez is using the scholarship to study abroad in Senegal.
• Suzanna Yoder, a junior social work major from Wellman, Iowa. Yoder is using the scholarship to study abroad in Senegal.

The Gilman Scholarship is awarded up to $5,000 to students with limited financial means for study abroad, as well as those who have been generally underrepresented in study abroad programs, including students of diverse ethnic backgrounds, students who identify as LGBTQIA+ and students with disabilities.

“This is a cause for celebration for our students,” said Jan Bender Shetler, director of global engagement at Goshen College.“We are grateful that Gilman Scholarships are available for many students who would not otherwise be able to take a semester or even a May term abroad.”

Goshen College’s SST program is a unique international study abroad experience that integrates language, culture and service into a 13-week program. The SST program fulfills GC’s core curriculum intercultural requirement, which can also be met through short-term courses in the United States and abroad or study abroad with other international programs. SST provides students with opportunities to make connections abroad and immerse themselves in a new culture.

Students who have recently received other scholarships for SST travel include:

• Antoinette Mpawenayo a sophomore social work major from Chicago, Illinois – Indonesia, Freeman Asia Scholarship
• Caroline Robling-Greist a junior molecular biology and biochemistry major from Oak Park, Illinois – Indonesia, Freeman Asia Scholarship
• Cade Fisher a senior peace, justice and conflict studies major from Goshen – Ecuador, Rotary Scholarship