Texas State University has been recognized by the U.S. Department of State for producing 23 Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship recipients in the 20242025 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: 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; and Joseph Vodio Communication Studies, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Italy.
