LEXINGTON, Ky. (August 23, 2022) – Ten University of Kentucky alumni were awarded Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships to support their education goals abroad.
The Gilman Scholarship supports students who have traditionally been underrepresented in study abroad, including, but not limited to, students with high financial need, community college students, students in underrepresented fields such as the sciences and engineering, students from different ethnic backgrounds. and students with disabilities. Award recipients are chosen through 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.
The congressionally funded scholarship is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State and administered by the Institute of International Education.
UK recipients of the Gilman Scholarship include:
- Alexis Farmer, an anthropology senior from Alexandria, Louisiana, to study in Thailand;
- Kaitlyn Johnson, a Spanish senior from Prestonsburg, Kentucky, to study in Costa Rica;
- Brianna Mattingly, a senior architecture and Lewis Honors College member from Lebanon, Kentucky, to study in Italy;
- Leanna McCarty, an anthropology and linguistics senior from Morehead, Kentucky, to study in Romania;
- Mariah Ransom, a junior biology major from Paris, Kentucky, who will study in Italy;
- Ryan Sistrunk, an architecture senior from Louisville, Kentucky, to study in Argentina;
- Rebecca Stalcup, a senior human health sciences major from St. Louis. Louis County, Missouri, to study in Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands; AND
- Daniela Torres-Gomez, a business management sophomore from Lexington, to study in the United Kingdom.
Two of the UK recipients chose to remain anonymous.
Alexis Farmer, who is pursuing a minor in modern and classical languages, literature and culture/Chinese Studies in addition to her anthropology major, is advancing her language skills through Gilman.
“This scholarship will allow me to … further my language acquisition in Chinese. Thailand has many native Chinese speakers. Being able to study Chinese in Thailand and have daily access to classes, local speakers and study materials in my target language will help me become more proficient in using Mandarin in the workplace after graduation. Studying abroad will also allow me to connect with locals and professors to gain experience in my field.”
In the UK, Farmer has been active in the UK Anthropology Club and the Chinese Club and is a UK KLIM ambassador. This summer she worked at the Webb Museum of Anthropology and helped co-author research with mentors Elena Sesma, Ph.D., assistant professor of anthropology, and Ann Kingsolver, Ph.D., professor of anthropology, published in a special issue of Anthropologie southern. Farmer also counts Juliana McDonald, Ph.D., associate professor of anthropology; Sihui Ke, Ph.D., assistant professor of second language acquisition; and Pat Whitlow, Ph.D., director of the UK Office of National Competitive Awards, as influential in her studies.
After graduation, Farmer is considering a master’s degree in anthropology and research opportunities abroad.
Kaitlyn Johnson is minoring in Latin American, Caribbean and Latino studies in addition to her Spanish language and linguistics. She believes Gilman offers a variety of opportunities to study abroad, network internationally, and pursue future opportunities such as a Fulbright or government employment.
Passionate about Latin American culture, Johnson has been active in research on the implications of climate change in the region and the impact of colonization on the African diaspora in the Dominican Republic. She credits Jennifer Garlin, her senior academic advisor, for being instrumental in her studies during her time at UK.
After commencement, Johnson hopes to teach English abroad and then return to the U.S. to earn her master’s degree and doctorate in Latin American studies. Her career plans are to become a researcher and professor.
Brianna Mattingly, a former ambassador at the College of Design, is pursuing a certificate in historic preservation in addition to her degree in architecture. Beyond working abroad with professors in both fields, she is excited about the connections made through the Gilman Fellowship.
“Receiving this award gives me the opportunity to not only study abroad with funding, but also gives me many connections for the future. The Gilman Scholarship has a network of recipients and alumni, and they help each other when it comes to scholarships and future careers,” Mattingly explained. “This scholarship means not only travel and networking opportunities, but memories that I will only have a times with all my friends in a whole new place.”
Several architecture faculty have influenced Mattingly since freshman year, including Jason Scroggin, MS, associate professor, and Jordan Hines, M.Arch., instructor of architecture, as well as members of Lexington’s NOMI Design team.
“Every professor at the College of Design becomes your friend after a while just because of the community we have. I would have to give a big shout out to Sipera Simons who has the most positive attitude every day and without fail I can go and talk to them about anything I need at any time of the day.
After graduation, Mattingly will pursue a master’s degree in architecture and a graduate certificate in historic preservation.
Leanna McCarty, who is pursuing degrees in linguistics and anthropology, used Gilman to attend the 2022 Juvenile Osteology Research Workshop in preparation for graduate school. “These experiences will stay with me for the rest of my life,” she said.
In the UK, McCarty has done research with Renee Bonzani, Ph.D., senior lecturer in anthropology, on stable isotope analysis of deer and dog bones to analyze whether they were eating corn during certain periods of time.
McCarty credits Sesma, as well as assistant professors of anthropology Heather Worne, Ph.D., and Celise Chilcote-Fricker, Ph.D., as an influence on her chosen academic path by guiding her through her college choices for graduate school, programs to apply for, and everyday classroom questions. “I wouldn’t be where I am, or accept this scholarship, without them.”
After completing her degree, McCarty plans to pursue a master’s degree in forensics or biological anthropology and linguistics. “I might even go on to get my Ph.D. also in topics. I will never stop wanting to learn more, and who’s to say I should?”
Architecture student Ryan Sistrunk will use his Gilman to help gain experience to one day fulfill his passion for “transforming cities into better spaces and creating a new way of life for people.”
A NOMAS and ACE Mentor Program participant, Sistrunk credits Maynard Leon, partner at AÄ MÄ Studio, and Liz Swanson, M.Arch., associate professor of architecture, as the best influences on his studies.
Sistrunk plans to attend graduate school after commencement.
Gilman researcher Rebecca Stalcup studied sex trafficking with her own funding this summer. “I spent the first three weeks in Stockholm, Sweden, studying human trafficking. I then spent two weeks in Copenhagen, Denmark, with a week-long study tour in Amsterdam studying prostitution and the sex trade.”
A former officer of the UK Student Organization of Human Health Sciences, Stalcup credits Christy Brady, Ph.D., assistant professor of human health sciences, and Ok-Kyong Park-Sarge, Ph.D., associate professor of physiology in the College of Medicine, as influential in her decision to study abroad and pursue other academic endeavors.
After completing her degree, Stalcup’s goal is to attend the UK College of Medicine.
“My goal is to help those who have been negatively impacted by marginalization and bring their voices to the forefront of medicine. I hope to be an advocate for these patients and help the medical community see the need in certain populations, especially women’s health care.”
Daniela Torres-Gomez is using her Gilman Scholarship in the UK to enhance her leadership skills on a global level to prepare her for her own business endeavors one day.
“I have the dream of being an executive director of my own restaurant franchise in the near future,” said Torres-Gomez, whose family business and Mexican culture inspired her. “My studies will help me achieve this and share my culinary artistry along with my leadership expertise with the world.”
Torres-Gomez counts lecturer Conrad Davies; Laurence Tuccori, advisor and director of Exchange & Direct Programs at the UK International Centre; and Deirdra Reber, Ph.D., associate professor of Latin American culture, as major influences on her time in the UK.
After commencement, Torres-Gomez plans to pursue an MBA at UK’s Gatton College of Business and Economics.
The National Competitive Awards Office assists current UK undergraduate and graduate students and recent graduates in applying for internships, external scholarships and scholarships funded by sources (such as a non-governmental foundation or government agency) outside the university. These awards honor outstanding students nationwide. The next Gilman Scholarship deadline is October 6. Students who are interested in these opportunities are encouraged to contact the office well in advance of the scholarship deadline.
