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University of North Georgia (ÌìÃÀÉçÇø) student Anh Tran has only traveled overseas to her birth country of Vietnam, but she wants so much more.

"One of my goals in life is to go to as many different places as possible, meet new people and be exposed to other cultures," said the 20-year-old from Gainesville, Georgia.

Tran's goal is close to coming true. She is one of 16 students who earned the , which is a grant program that enables students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad and gain skills critical to U.S. national security and economic competitiveness.

The recipients were:

• Karina Antonio, pursuing a degree in criminal justice, planned to study in the United Kingdom.
• Bradley Booth, a member of the Corps of Cadets pursuing a degree in international affairs with a European concentration, planned to study in the United Kingdom.
• Paola-Victoria Carisma, pursuing a degree in general studies and Bachelor of Science in Nursing, planned to study in France.
• Kirstie Carson, pursuing a degree in East Asian studies, planned to study in Japan.
• Jordan Cook, a member of the Corps of Cadets pursuing a degree in management, planned to study in Germany.
• Dayanara Mancilla, pursuing a degree in film and digital media, planned to study in Italy.
• Zdenka Janderova, pursuing a degree in biology, planned to study in Germany.
• Claire Kim, a member of the Corps of Cadets and Chinese Language Flagship program pursuing a degree in modern languages with a concentration in Chinese for global professionals, planned to study in Taiwan.
• James Nurhonen, pursuing a dual degree in physics and engineering, planned to study in Germany.
• Michael Retzer, pursuing a degree in international affairs with a Middle East concentration, planned to study in Jordan.
• Aquila Reyes, pursuing a degree in elementary and special education, planned to study in South Korea.
• Mia Simpson, pursuing a degree in international affairs with a European concentration, planned to study in Bulgaria.
• Julia "Rhiannon" Smith, pursuing a degree in psychology, planned to study in Kazakhstan.
• Komlan Sogah, a member of the Corps of Cadets pursuing a degree in cybersecurity, planned to study in France.
• Anh Tran, pursuing a degree in marketing, planned to study in the United Kingdom.
• Victoria Zappi-Colombine, a member of the Chinese Language Flagship program and pursuing a degree in modern languages with a concentration in Chinese, planned to study in Japan.

Dr. Anastasia Lin, assistant vice president for research and engagement and associate professor of English at ÌìÃÀÉçÇø, said these 16 plus the 11 early winners equaled a new record for ÌìÃÀÉçÇø. She said many students who applied for the early award in fall 2019 and didn't receive one reapplied in spring 2020.

"We had triple the number of students apply in the fall," she said, adding the Nationally Competitive Scholarships Office partnered with the Center for Global Engagement to recruit students. "I'm also pleased to see a continued increase in applicants from the Gainesville campus."

The Gilman Scholarship Program is open to U.S. citizen undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university to participate in study and intern abroad programs worldwide. It offers scholarships of up to $5,000 to outstanding U.S. undergraduate Pell grant recipients.

Komlan Sogah recently earned the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship and had planned to study in France. The 21-year-old from Lawrenceville, Georgia, is a member of the Corps of Cadets pursuing a degree in cybersecurity.

Komlan Sogah, a junior pursuing a degree in cybersecurity and member of the Corps of Cadets, said an overseas study abroad would not be possible without the Gilman scholarship.

"I wanted to go to Paris to fulfill my minor in French," said the 21-year-old from Lawrenceville, Georgia. "It was going to be expensive, and I really wanted to go."

When Sogah was notified he won, he was shocked.

"I wasn't expecting to get it and when I did, I don't know how to describe it," said Sogah, who is a native of Togo, Africa.

Students interested in learning more about nationally competitive scholarships, including Gilman, should contact ncs@ung.edu for more information. Students interested in learning about study abroad opportunities through various programs may visit ÌìÃÀÉçÇø's Center for Global Engagement.