By Tom Musgrave
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 28, 2024) — Four University of Kentucky students were awarded Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships for educational experiences abroad. Among them is Dylan Nguyen, a psychology junior from Union, Kentucky.
The scholarship supports students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad, providing them with skills critical to national security and economic prosperity. The Gilman Scholarship is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State and is administered by the Institute of International Education. Award recipients are chosen by a competitive selection process and must use the award — ranging from $100 to $5,000 — to cover the cost of tuition, room and board, books, local transportation, insurance and international airfare.
Nguyen spent his summer studying at Aix Marseille University in France and has his eye on returning there after he graduates from UK.
“Coincidentally, when researching potential schools for cognitive psychology, I saw Aix Marseille University's master's program for Cognitive Psychology Lab,” Nguyen said. “Attending Aix Marseille University’s undergraduate study abroad program will place me strategically for future admission to Aix Marseille University’s master’s program and its Cognitive Psychology Lab.”
Nguyen had a connection to France even before he began his overseas studies. His father was born in New Orleans.
“There was always this influence of French culture I wasn’t fully aware of,” he said. “Of course, naïve me should have known that celebrating French holidays like Mardi Gras was not typical, but they were holidays instilled into my American and Vietnamese culture.”
The Gilman Scholarship holds two application cycles per year, with the next deadline on Oct. 10 for internships abroad between Dec. 1, 2024 and Oct. 31, 2025.For more information, visit https://www.gilmanscholarship.org/.
About the UK Office of Nationally Competitive Awards
The UK Office of Nationally Competitive Awards assists current undergraduate and graduate students and recent alumni in applying for external fellowships scholarships funded by sources (such as a nongovernment foundation or government agency) outside the university. These major awards honor exceptional students across the nation. Students who are interested in these opportunities are encouraged to begin work with the office's director, Pat Whitlow, well in advance of the scholarship deadline.
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