MACON, Ga. — Mercer University has been recognized among the top 25 institutions producing Gilman Scholars across the 25-year history of the Gilman Program, which provides merit-based scholarships to students with high financial need to study or intern abroad.
Since the inception of the Gilman Scholars Program at Mercer, 184 scholarships have been awarded to students participating in study abroad programs and internships.
“This recognition from the Gilman Scholars Program underscores Mercer’s commitment to making enrichment opportunities like study abroad available to as many students as possible,” said Mercer President Dr. Penny L. Elkins. “I know from talking with students who have served as Gilman Scholars that their ability to study abroad had a significant impact on their Mercer experience and helped them gain competitive career skills and develop global networks.”
“Students who study abroad develop enhanced critical thinking skills and intercultural competence,” said Dr. David Davis, director of the honors program and national fellowships and scholarships. “They also graduate at higher rates, and they are employed at higher rates than students who don’t study abroad. These are life-changing experiences, and Mercer is committed to making these opportunities available to as many students as possible. Our continued success with Gilman scholarship awards is the direct result of collaboration across the university to support students with high financial need.”
Assistant Director of Global Education Emily Dunn said the Gilman Scholarship opens doors for students who might not otherwise have the opportunity to study or intern abroad.
“This recognition affirms Mercer’s dedication to making transformative international experiences accessible to all,” she said. “We are incredibly proud of our Gilman recipients and grateful to the faculty and staff who support them. This milestone celebrates 25 years of impact nationwide, and we are honored to be part of that legacy.”
Mercer has previously been recognized as both a Gilman Top Producing Institution and a Gilman Greatest Growth Institution for its role in broadening the student population that studies abroad overall, as well as in areas of priority achievement.
Gilman Scholars receive up to $5,000 — or up to $8,000 if they are also a recipient of the Gilman Critical Need Language Award — to apply toward their study abroad or internship program costs.
Since the inception of the Gilman Program in 2001, more than 180,000 applications have been received and more than 50,000 merit-based scholarships have been awarded to American students participating in study abroad programs and internships around the world.
About The Gilman Program
The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program (Gilman Program) provides merit-based scholarships to outstanding American undergraduate students with high financial need to pursue credit-bearing academic studies and career-oriented internships abroad. These opportunities equip Gilman Scholars with international experience, global networks, and foreign language skills essential to advancing the U.S. economic competitiveness and national security.
