The University of Nebraska–Lincoln has been recognized among the top 25 large institutions producing Gilman Scholars across the 25-year history of the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. The Gilman Program provides merit-based scholarships to talented American undergraduates to study or intern abroad on credit-bearing experiences.
The scholarship was established by the U.S. Congress in 2001. A key aspect of the 25th anniversary is the top-producing institution campaign — the U.S. colleges or universities that have supported the most Gilman Scholars from 2001 to 2025. The University of Nebraska–Lincoln has earned this distinction in the large institutions (more than 15,000 students) category.
To support undergraduate applicants, members of the Global Experiences Office and the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships collaborate to offer writing workshops and personalized advising timed alongside the March and October Gilman application deadlines. Since 2012, the partnership has supported the successful application of more than 350 Gilman Scholars.
“I am extremely proud of the relationships and collaboration between units to best serve our students,” said Marnie Nelson, director of the Global Experiences Office. “Our office will continue to make every effort to build pathways for all students to participate in a global experience. The Gilman International Scholarship is a key component of our efforts.”
Renae Ninneman, global experiences coordinator, leads promotion and support of the scholarship.
“I’m proud of the system that we’ve put in place collaborating with the Undergraduate Research and Fellowship office,” she said. “Each cycle, we offer support so that any student can access information about the Gilman and get individualized essay feedback. It’s a real joy for me to work closely with all these talented students and see them earn the scholarship, opening the door to a life-changing study abroad experience.”
Cheyenne Storms, 2024 Gilman Scholar, studied abroad through the CAST in Singapore program, led by the Center for Academic Success and Transition.
“With help from the Gilman Scholarship, and from UNL, I was able to afford the program,” she said. “We stayed in Singapore for two weeks and learned about their vastly diverse culture and life in southeast Asia. This trip really fueled my love for visiting other countries and desire to be a model global citizen.”
The Global Experiences Office supports and coordinates 40-plus faculty led-programs abroad, offered annually from all nine colleges and the University Honors Program. The office also supports semester and summer programs hosted by partner institutions and organizations.
“Twenty-five years of Gilman Scholars reflect the power of international education to prepare students for meaningful careers and civic life,” said Courtney Santos, director of the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships. “The competencies they bring back — such as curiosity, collaboration and cross-cultural understanding — strengthen Nebraska communities and our regional workforce. For five years and counting, I have been honored to encourage their applications and ambitions, alongside the wonderful team in the Global Experiences Office. I also wish to thank my predecessor, Dr. Laura Damuth (now retired), for developing a fantastic talent development pipeline centered on the Gilman Scholarship.”
The Gilman Program is part of the U.S. Department of State, funded by the U.S. government and administered by the Institute of International Education. For more information, email the Global Experiences Office at globalexperiences@unl.edu.
