The 色色研究所 has been recognized as an all-time Top Producer of
Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship recipients as part of the program鈥檚 25th anniversary,
honoring U.S. colleges and universities that have supported the most Gilman Scholars
from 2001-25.
The provides merit-based scholarships to talented American undergraduate students with
high financial need to study or intern abroad for academic credit. Since the scholarship鈥檚
inception in 2001, more than 50,000 Gilman Scholars have studied or interned in over
155 countries around the globe.
USF has produced 384 Gilman Scholars, and the number continues to grow. USF Gilman
Scholarship recipients have pursued experiences across dozens of countries and disciplines,
from clinical health immersion in Bolivia to exchange programs in South Korea pairing
USF students with international peers for sustained cross-cultural learning. In the
past five years, the Gilman Scholarship Program has awarded more than $700,000 to
USF Bulls studying abroad.
Director of the USF Office of National Scholars Sayandeb Basu commented on the university鈥檚
strong record of producing Gilman Scholars, reflecting USF鈥檚 institutional identity:
鈥淏eing recognized as a top producer of Gilman Scholars is a powerful affirmation of
who we are at the 色色研究所. We believe that talent is universal,
even when opportunity is not 鈥 and we work every day to close that gap. Our university's
strong record in advancing social mobility is not incidental; it is the result of
intentional support, high-impact experiences like study abroad, and a mission centered
on empowering students to transform their lives and communities.鈥
Growing Opportunities for Global Learning
Roughly 35% to 40% of USF students receive a Pell Grant 鈥 federal need-based financial aid 鈥 each year. In 2017, the USF Office of National Scholars and USF World collaborated to appoint a dedicated Gilman Scholarship advisor to support students facing financial barriers to study abroad. In this role, the advisor recruits Pell Grant recipients to apply, mentors them through the essay process, and helps them prepare for international travel.
By Spring of 2018, USF was the No. 1 producer of Gilman Scholars in Florida and has
maintained that title ever since.
The 2021-22 academic year brought another milestone when USF was named the Top Producer of Gilman Scholars nationally among large institutions.
Gilman Scholarship advisor and now Assistant Director of the Office of National Scholars
Lauren Roberts said she remains as committed to the success of USF Gilman applicants
today as she was when she began the role.
鈥淲orking with these students is my favorite part of my job. For many, it is their
first time out of the country and for some, even the state of Florida.鈥
Roberts also expressed deep appreciation for collaboration with campus partners 鈥
including USF World for sharing data and outreach tools, faculty for supporting essay
development, and the Office of Financial Aid for communicating with students and answering
questions.
鈥淲e have all worked hard to build a culture of support at USF that embodies the Gilman
mission,鈥 said Roberts.
Long-lasting Impact on Student Success
USF Gilman recipients have pursued prestigious career opportunities and graduate programs after concluding their study abroad experiences.
Hiram R铆os Hern谩ndez
R铆os Hern谩ndez, a 2013 Gilman Scholar, was named a recipient of the USF Outstanding
Young Alumni Award in 2025. He currently serves as an international relations officer
at the U.S. Embassy in Lima, Peru, and recently returned to campus to speak with student groups about his journey.
When speaking about the impact Gilman had on his trajectory, he said, 鈥淭he Gilman
Scholarship allowed me to study in China at a critical point in my Mandarin learning
journey. That immersive experience accelerated my progress, deepened my global perspective,
and played a key role in my path to becoming a U.S. diplomat.鈥
Mabel Proenza
Awarded a Gilman Scholarship to study for a semester at Peking University in Beijing
in 2019, Proenza is now finishing her graduate degree at the University of Pennsylvania through
the Pickering Foreign Service Fellowship Program. After her Gilman experience, she returned to China to study Chinese in Shanghai
as a Boren Scholar. Before beginning graduate school, she spent a year in Spain as
an English teaching assistant in the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.
Proenza intends to facilitate academic exchange programs as a foreign service officer
and credits her initial experience applying for and receiving the Gilman Scholarship
as a launchpad for success.
Chris Oueis
Graduating in 2025 with majors in international studies and econometrics and quantitative
economics, Chris Oueis studied for a semester in Paris with his Gilman Scholarship
in fall 2024. He later participated in the Public Policy and International Affairs Program at Carnegie Mellon University and
was one of 20 students selected nationwide for the Phi Beta Kappa Key into Public
Service Award, a recognition from one of the nation鈥檚 most prestigious honor societies.
Through his academic and experiential learning, Oueis has focused on improving foreign
aid-funded development programs in conflict-affected regions, particularly in the
Middle East and North Africa.
鈥淢y goal is to change the way the world thinks about the Near East and Middle East
region,鈥 said Oueis. 鈥淔rom Iraq to Egypt to Lebanon, there have been so many civilizations
and cultures, and there is so much more science this region has offered to the world
than people know.鈥
Oueis is now pursuing a master鈥檚 degree in public policy, data, and artificial intelligence
at Carnegie Mellon University and plans to leverage aggregated data to support more
informed policy decisions.
Building the Next Generation of Global Leaders
As USF celebrates its 70th anniversary, the university remains committed to promoting career readiness, global citizenship
and economic mobility 鈥 values shared with the Gilman Scholarship Program.
Reflecting on this milestone, Dean of the Judy Genshaft Honors College Charles Adams
shared, 鈥淚n our 70th year, we are proud to see USF students recognized through the
Gilman Scholarship, a program that reflects our deep commitment to access and opportunity.
By supporting students as they pursue global experiences, we are helping prepare the
next generation of leaders who will strengthen their communities, expand their perspectives,
and drive economic success.鈥