Texas State University has been recognized by the U.S. Department of State for producing 23 Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship recipients in the 2024-2025 academic year. Of the 23 students, 16 of these Gilman recipients were awarded during the spring 2025 cycle and seven in fall 2024 for a total of $71,500 in funding.
A total of 3,500 American undergraduate students with high financial need from all 50 states and the District of Columbia were awarded Gilman scholarships in spring 2025 to study abroad in over 170 countries. Over 70% of the selected Gilman Scholars are from rural areas and small towns across the United States, and 55% are first-generation college students.
The Gilman Program received a record high of 17,000 applications across the 2024-2025 academic year.
“This year marks a significant increase in awards for Texas State University students, and we're thrilled at the access to study abroad that this scholarship gives to these well-deserving awardees,” said Cathlin Noonan, external funding coordinator at the IDEA Center who advises applicants. “By collaborating with both Education Abroad and the Financial Aid office, we were able to help eligible students apply for this competitive award. Congratulations to all of our recipients.”
This group of Gilman Scholars from TXST will represent the U.S. overseas and will return to their communities with the global networks and foreign language skills needed to support U.S. economic and national security interests.
Some TXST students among the spring cohort are recipients of the John McCain International Scholarship for Military Families (Gilman-McCain Scholarship). Gilman-McCain Scholarships are awarded to child and spousal dependents of U.S. military personnel who are active or activated during the application period. The governments of France, Germany, New Zealand, Wales, Portugal, and Taiwan provided additional scholarships to Gilman Scholars to study in these locations.
The 2024-2025 awardees, including their study abroad locations and majors, are listed below:
Kaitlyn Armstrong - Exercise & Sports Science, Costa Rica
Alexis Benavides - International Relations, Lithuania
Ximena Bencomo - Health Sciences, United Kingdom
Claire Boswell - Wildlife Biology, Ireland
Jaci Kyleen Chaney - Biology, United Kingdom
Cecilia Fenton - Philosophy, Estonia
Jesse Flynn - Computer Science, Japan
Ron Lessane - Theater, United Kingdom
Memphis Mallory - Anthropology & German, Austria
Adora Morris - Theater, South Korea
Gift Onyenaobi - Health Sciences, Spain
Adesuwa Onyenze - Health Sciences, Austria
Charlie Perez - Psychology, Japan
Sheila Portillo - English, Ireland
Gee Ramirez - Health Information Management, United Kingdom
Madeleine Reonas - Health Sciences, South Korea
Nubia Saenz - Marketing, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Italy
Madison Shavers - Mass Communications, United Kingdom
Alyssa Smith-Rodriquez - Nutrition & Foods, South Korea
Vanessa Tankeu - Health Sciences, United Kingdom
Faith Trenkle - Microbiology, United Kingdom
Adriana Velez-Brunes - Microbiology & Wildlife Biology, Costa Rica
Joseph Vodio - Communication Studies, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Italy
Established by the U.S. Congress, the Gilman Scholarship is an initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and is aided in its implementation by the Institute of International Education. The next application cycle will be launched in August 2025. Visit the Gilman website to learn more.
TXST undergraduates interested in applying in future cycles should email Noonan in the IDEA Center for more information about upcoming deadlines and application procedures.