The Office of National Fellowships and Scholarships is happy to announce that Nicole Hernandez ’26 and Sarah Kinnard ’26 have received the Gilman Scholarship to support their study abroad experiences.
The Gilman Scholarship, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, is a nationally competitive grant program that provides funding for students to study or intern abroad to gain skills critical to our national security and economic prosperity.
Kinnard, a Middle Eastern and Islamic studies major and linguistics and peace and conflict studies minor, plans on studying in Amman, Jordan, during the summer as a part of the Council on International Educational Exchange Summer Arabic Language Program. As of yet, she has not had the opportunity to travel abroad and cites the Gilman Scholarship as an integral component of her summer study plans.
“Getting the chance to study in countries like Jordan will allow me to gain a better understanding of my studies as a whole,” she states. On campus, Kinnard is an Arabic peer language tutor, student language ambassador in the Keck Center, and a member of the Colgate Model Arab League and Model UN, among numerous other activities. She is also a Questbridge Scholar and member of Phi Eta Sigma.
Hernandez is a political science and theater double major from Arlington, Texas. She will be joining the Geneva Study Group in the spring of 2025. In Geneva, Hernandez looks forward to getting to know the local history, people, theater, and music. She is also excited to work at an NGO and see what humanitarian aid looks like from inside an organization. Hernandez expects to use her Gilman Scholarship to allow her to enjoy extra travel and experiences while abroad.
Some groups Hernandez is involved in on campus are SORT, Backpacks for Kids, the Muslim Student Association, and QTPOC. She is also a Shaw Wellness Institute ambassador. “Be curious and open,” Hernandez encourages her peers. “Let yourself breathe and experience something to the fullest.”
To learn more about the Gilman Scholarship or other national competitive awards, reach out to Meghan Niedt, mniedt@colgate.edu, in the Office of National Fellowships and Scholarships to schedule an appointment.