Federal scholarship expands access to study abroad for Pell-eligible students.
The University of Oregon has been recognized by the U.S. Department of State as a top producer of Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship recipients across the program’s 25-year history.
The recognition highlights the UO’s work to expand access to global education for students with high financial need. The Gilman Program provides merit-based scholarships of up to $5,000 for Pell Grant-eligible undergraduate students to pursue international internships and study abroad opportunities for academic credit.
“It is an honor for the University of Oregon to be recognized as a Gilman top producer,” said Luis Ruiz, associate director for student success and analytics. “This achievement shows that UO students can and should aspire to win national competitive distinguished scholarships. It also reflects the great work of Division of Global Engagement staff and UO faculty to develop curriculum and global experiential learning opportunities that prepare students for post-graduation success.”
Since the program’s founding in 2001, 557 UO students have received Gilman Scholarships, totaling approximately $1.72 million in support. The average award for UO recipients is $3,756.
At the UO, approximately 43 percent of undergraduate students study or intern abroad—a higher percentage than most peer institutions across the country. Global Education Oregon (GEO), the university’s study abroad office, offers over 200 programs in more than 60 countries, enabling an educational experience abroad for every interested student, regardless of major.
For Belen Flores Pelayo, a fourth-year biology major, the Gilman Scholarship made it possible to participate in GEO’s Global Health and Service Learning program in Ghana last summer.
The UO has been committed to expanding study abroad access for many years, and we are proud of our year-over-year success connecting students to the resources needed to fulfill their international educational dreams.
“The Gilman is a HUGE blessing and allowed me to go abroad, which otherwise would not have been possible,” Flores Pelayo said. “I was able to gain hands-on service-learning experience at a local polyclinic, which helped me immerse myself and gain a global perspective on healthcare. This further strengthened my ambition to become an Emergency Room doctor.”
The UO’s global education programs are designed to enhance career readiness and pathways to timely graduation, aligning with the university’s Oregon Rising strategic plan.
"The UO has been committed to expanding study abroad access for many years, and we are proud of our year-over-year success connecting students to the resources needed to fulfill their international educational dreams." said Dennis Galvan, dean and vice provost for global engagement.
Ensuring access to education abroad for all UO students hinges on the availability of a diverse means of financial support. In addition to Gilman Scholarships, GEO supports students through SAGE Scholarships and Planning Scholarships, which help reduce financial barriers and make global education opportunities more accessible.
“To be successful in today’s increasingly global and competitive job market, UO students need to show they can think critically, adapt quickly, and engage with people and environments that are different from where they came from,” said Will Johnson, assistant vice provost for global business development and director of Global Education Oregon.
“Whether studying International business in Spain, Psychology in Kyoto, or interning with a sustainable chocolate producer in Costa Rica, GEO programs provide skills that employers need today.”
For Logan Adams, a fourth-year business administration major and two-time GlobalWorks Intern in Singapore in 2025 and Tokyo in 2023, Gilman support made it possible to fully engage in the experience.
“The Gilman Scholarship made my experience studying abroad in Singapore possible, and I probably could not have done it without it,” said Adams. “Having that financial support meant I could be fully present and intentional with the opportunity instead of worrying as much about money.”
“More than that, it gave me an experience that is helping prepare me for my career,” Adams continued. “Since I want to work in global business and marketing, being able to live and learn in an international environment helped me strengthen the cross-cultural perspective, adaptability, and confidence that I know I will need in my future.”
Calvin Peck Dobson, a third-year computer science major who interned abroad with GlobalWorks in Melbourne, Australia, said the experience shaped how he sees himself and his future.
“The Gilman Scholarship didn't just fund my journey to Australia,” Dobson said. “It gave me the space to discover who I am and grow in ways I never expected, both personally and professionally.”
For UO students, those opportunities can be the difference between seeing global education as out of reach and making it part of their academic path. The university’s recognition as a top producer of Gilman Scholars reflects both the number of students who have earned that support and the broader work to make study abroad and international internships more accessible, practical, and connected to students’ futures.
By: Spencer Smith
Division of Global Engagement