In the winter intersession of the 2024-2025 school year, Jayakumari Nair fulfilled her dream of studying abroad as a U of A student when she participated in a multi-country program traveling to France, Morocco, Gibraltar and Spain.

"It was truly life changing," said Nair, a first-generation student who graduated in spring 2025. "The experience helped me grow more independent and open-minded. I gained a deeper understanding of global perspectives, used my Arabic skills out in the community for the first time and built friendships that I'll treasure forever."

Nair was able to study abroad with financial assistance from the Benjamin A. Gilbert International Scholarship, a program from the U.S. Department of State aimed at supporting students with limited financial means to study abroad.

The U of A has a proven track record of helping university students secure funding through the Gilman Scholarship Program. Fifty U of A students received the Gilman Scholarship last school year, with award rates exceeding the national average for both the fall and spring cycles.

"I've seen firsthand the way the Gilman Scholarship changes lives," said Aley Bedair, director of study abroad and international exchange at the U of A. "For many students with significant financial need, this award is the key that opens the door to studying abroad. The personal and academic growth they experience abroad enriches not only their own futures but also our entire campus community when they return."

Katie Sabo, associate director of global engagement in Fulbright College, has served as a Gilman Advisor Ambassador for several years. In that role, she works with other institutions to provide guidance on how to increase awareness and applications for the Gilman Scholarship on their campus and serves as the main contact at the U of A for students interested in the program.

"To date, more than 230 University of Arkansas students have received Gilman Scholarships to study and intern abroad, many of whom may not have considered study abroad as a possibility without the help of this vital scholarship program," Sabo said. "The financial and advising support they receive from the Gilman Program, coupled with the skills and experience they gain while abroad, contribute to their continued academic and career success."

"Our Gilman Scholars engage in soft diplomacy through building meaningful connections in their host communities, and they impact their home and campus communities upon return by sharing their experiences," Sabo added. "They inspire more University of Arkansas students and other Arkansans to expand their learning beyond classroom walls."

Nair remembers her study abroad experience as "one of the best experiences I've had in college."

"I'm beyond grateful," Nair said of receiving the scholarship. "Without the Gilman Scholarship, I probably wouldn't have been able to go abroad at all. It helped me to grow not just academically, but personally and professionally."

The application deadline for the Gilman Scholarship is Oct. 3 for students interested in studying abroad on programs starting between Dec. 1, 2025, and Oct. 31, 2026. This includes January intersession 2026, spring 2026, May intersession 2026, summer 2026, August intersession 2026, fall 2026 and the academic year 2026-2027.

For more information, visit the Gilman website or contact Sabo at ksabo@uark.edu.