Thirteen UT Students Earn Gilman Scholarships To Study Abroad

Thirteen students from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, have been offered a collective $38,500 in Gilman Scholarship awards from the U.S. Department of State to support their studies abroad.

“We are delighted to see so many Vols expanding their educational journeys by pursuing study abroad while receiving recognition from the Gilman Scholarship,” said Meredith Malburne-Wade, director of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships. “Special thanks to Undergraduate Research and Fellowships coach Hannah Morgan as well as our colleagues at Programs Abroad and the Judith Anderson Herbert Writing Center, who are exceptional partners in supporting UT students as they pursue extraordinary opportunities.”

The scholarship program is named for Benjamin Gilman, who served from 1973 to 2003 in the U.S. House of Representatives and for many years on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The Gilman Scholarship aims to expand study abroad access for students from all academic fields and backgrounds, providing international experience, global networks and language skills vital to U.S. economic prosperity and national security.

Meet the recipients

Nyja Casey of Memphis is a senior majoring in applied artificial intelligence with minors in user experience design and data science.

Casey will participate in a faculty-led program in Rabat, Morocco, centered on cultural immersion, global learning and emerging technologies such as generative AI and data analytics.

“Being selected as a Gilman Scholar is deeply meaningful to me because it allows me to represent UT globally as a student ambassador for the College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies while advancing my commitment to inclusive human-centered technology as a minority in tech,” Casey said.

Benjamin Lobdell of Manchaca, Texas, is a senior studying construction science and management.

Lobdell spent winter break in Italy exploring construction methods and practices through time by attending guided tours and lectures in ancient and modern Roman and medieval structures.

“From exploration of ancient art to architecture, city planning and infrastructure, this program deeply improved my knowledge of how modern building techniques came to be,” Lobdell said. “I am very thankful to the Gilman organization for providing the opportunity to go abroad and learn so much.”

Madina Mirusmanova of Sevierville, Tennessee, is a senior majoring in computer science.

Mirusmanova will participate in a three-week immersive program in Copenhagen, Denmark.

“I would like to thank the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships, as well as the Judith Anderson Herbert Writing Center, for organizing the Gilman preparation workshops, which greatly helped me with my application,” Mirusmanova said.

Simbi Mushayamunda of Johnson City, Tennessee, is a senior majoring in interior architecture.

The Gilman Scholarship will support Mushayamunda’s study in Italy, where she will immerse herself in historic and contemporary Italian architecture to deepen her knowledge of interior architecture and design.

“Being selected for the Gilman Scholarship means so much to me because it gives me the opportunity to study interior architecture in Italy, a place I’ve always admired for its deep connection between history, culture and design,” Mushayamunda said. “I am excited to serve as a cultural ambassador while gaining experience and growing personally and professionally to bring what I learn back to my community and future work.”

Lillie Redwine of Mount Carmel, Tennessee, graduated in May 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in elementary education.

Redwine will travel to Copenhagen, Denmark, to study Scandinavian approaches to happiness and student-centered education.

“The Gilman Award will allow me to study student-centered education and well-being in Denmark while also serving as a cultural ambassador for the United States,” Redwine said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to represent my community and country abroad and to bring global perspectives back to my future classroom in Tennessee.”

Gabe Torkelson is a sophomore from Eagle, Idaho, majoring in chemistry with a minor in Spanish.

Torkelson will participate in a UT service-learning program in Chile, where he will shadow a doctor and participate in a medical field service experience.

“I am extremely grateful to have been selected for this award and the opportunity to serve in the medical field in Valparaíso, Chile, this summer,” Torkelson said. “Gilman is helping to further my academic hopes of being a sports medicine surgeon fluent in both Spanish and English.”

Jackson Vaughn is a senior from Clarksville, Tennessee, studying business analytics and statistics and international business.

Vaughn will participate in the Rome to Barcelona Food Study, traveling across Italy, France and Spain to explore sustainable food systems, regenerative agricultural practices and local markets.

“Receiving the Gilman Scholarship has greatly aided my ability to participate in the Rome to Barcelona Food Study,” Vaughn said. “I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to learn across cultures and support my end goal of working at the intersection of analytics, economics and environmental sustainability.”

Lillianna Welch of Knoxville is a sophomore majoring in ecology and evolutionary biology with a minor in animal sciences.

Welch will study abroad in Monteverde, Costa Rica, working with conservationists to study local wildlife. She will learn how sustainable practices can protect threatened ecosystems, with the goal of bringing those conservation techniques back to the United States.

“My dream has always been to study reptiles and amphibians,” Welch said. “Studying local wildlife in the Cloud Forest will be an incredible experience to supplement my EEB major and future research.”

The remaining recipients have chosen to remain anonymous.

Applications for the next Gilman Scholarship cycle are open through March 5. To explore fellowship opportunities or receive support in applying to nationally competitive awards like the Gilman, UT students can visit the Undergraduate Research and Fellowships website or contact the Programs Abroad office.

No photo available for Benjamin Lobdell.
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MEDIA CONTACT:

Stacy Estep (865-974-8304, [email protected])