Photo Caption: Three WKU students will study abroad this summer on Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships; two more students were selected as alternates. From left: Chasity Jane Hodge, Abigail Vickers and Amy Wolterman were awarded scholarships; China Rose Brown and Colleen Lorraine Goodson were selected as alternates.

Three WKU students will study abroad this summer on Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships. Two more students were selected as alternates.

Chasity Jane Hodge of Lebanon Junction, Abigail Vickers of Waynesburg and Amy Wolterman of Lexington were awarded scholarships of up to $5,000. China Rose Brown of Nortonville and Colleen Lorraine Goodson of Whitesburg were selected as alternates.

Funded by the U.S. Department of State, more than 2,700 Gilman scholarships will be awarded this academic year for U.S. citizen undergraduates to study or intern abroad. The program is intended to increase diversity in study abroad by funding the travel of underrepresented groups including ethnic minorities; students studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics; and students with disabilities. The strongest applications are written by students who will earn credit applicable to their academic and career goals while abroad.

Hodge, a second-year student and the daughter of Ronald and Rebecca Hodge, has a double major in Arabic and nursing. She will be studying in Amman, Jordan, through AMIDEAST Intensive Arabic program this summer. She is planning a career in nursing, working in locations with Arabic speakers.

Vickers, a second-year student and the daughter of Stan and Janet Vickers, has a double major in elementary education and Spanish and is a student in the Honors College at WKU. After graduation, she plans to teach English as a second language in Latin America.

Wolterman, a third-year student and the daughter of David and Jeanne Wolterman, is a graphic design major. She will finish her last two graphic design courses in Berlin on a Kentucky Institute for International Studies (KIIS) program while visiting museums and design agencies. She plans a career at a design agency upon graduation.

Brown, a second-year student, is a music education major. She will participate in the KIIS Experience Salzburg five-week summer program for music education majors if she receives a scholarship.

Goodson, a fourth-year student and daughter of Densmore and Sue Goodson, is a healthcare administration major. She will study in Tanzania for five weeks while working in hospitals and conducting research if she receives a scholarship.

Each of the students worked with the Office of Scholar Development at WKU in preparing their Gilman Scholarship application and with the Office of Study Abroad and Global Learning to find the best academic program abroad to fit their goals.

About the Office of Scholar Development: The Office of Scholar Development is committed to helping WKU students in all majors and degree programs develop the vision, experience and skills to be independent, engaged scholars. OSD welcomes the opportunity to work with students interested in nationally competitive scholarships.

About the Office of Study Abroad and Global Learning (SAGL): SAGL serves the WKU community by engaging students, faculty and staff in diverse, educational, and cultural experiences through faculty-led, exchange, consortia and other study abroad opportunities. For information about the Office of Study Abroad, visit http://www.wku.edu/studyabroad. The office can be contacted via e-mail at study.abroad@wku.edu or by phone at (270) 745-5334.

Contact: Cheryl Kirby-Stokes, (270) 745-4191