Loyola students win Gilman Scholarships from U.S. Department of State
Taariq Eddy, 鈥�24, and Caroline Smuts, 鈥�25, were awarded scholarships from the U.S. Department of State鈥檚 Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program. Recipients are chosen from a competitive selection process and the award can be used toward any study or intern abroad costs.
鈥淭he Gilman Scholarship is particularly special because it鈥檚 exclusively for Pell Grant recipients,鈥� said Terre Ryan, Loyola鈥檚 director of national fellowships. 鈥淭his scholarship is extremely competitive, but Taariq and Caroline are very special people. The Gilman program clearly recognized their leadership potential.鈥�
Eddy, who was raised in Baltimore, Maryland, is a veteran who served as an emergency medical technician in the U.S. Army. He's a biology major who hopes to become a trauma surgeon. Eddy studied in Newcastle, England, during the Spring 2023 semester.
鈥淭he ability to professionally network with other Gilman Scholars was an exclusive perk of the scholarship,鈥� Eddy said. 鈥淭he scholarship gave me peace of mind, so I was able to focus on my studies and immerse myself in the culture with my new friends.鈥�
Smuts, who was born and raised in Mystic, Connecticut, is a global studies major who plans to pursue a career in international relations. In the Fall 2023 semester, she will study abroad in Leuven, Belgium.
鈥淭his scholarship will help my goals within the Foreign Service,鈥� Smuts said. 鈥淚 hope to work in the State Department as a Foreign Service Officer. Having this scholarship will help me make global connections that can aid me in my career.鈥�
The mission of the is to develop a generation of future leaders who represent the rich diversity of the U.S. and have the international networks and skills to advance national security and economic prosperity.