3 Wildcats earn Gilman Scholarships to study abroad in France
Three University of Kentucky students were awarded Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships to support their education abroad goals.
The Gilman Scholarship supports students who have been traditionally under-represented in study abroad, including but not limited to, students with high financial need, community college students, students in under-represented fields such as the sciences and engineering, students with diverse ethnic backgrounds and students with disabilities. Award recipients are chosen by a competitive selection process and must use the award — ranging from $100 to $5,000 — to defray the cost of tuition, room and board, books, local transportation, insurance and international airfare.
The congressionally funded scholarship is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State and administered by the Institute of International Education. The scholarship holds two application cycles per year, with the next deadline on Oct. 5.
The UK recipients of the Gilman Scholarships to France include:
- Bridan Braun, an English and history junior and Lewis Honors College member from Grayson, Kentucky;
- Odalys Garcia, a marketing and economics junior from Versailles, Kentucky, and
- Emmanuel Dhemby Moussabou, a clinical leadership management senior from Lexington.
The daughter of David and Veronica Braun, pre-law student Bridan Braun is pursuing minors in world religions and classics in addition to her history and English majors. She will study in Paris for three weeks.
Braun, who has been interning under Rebecca K. Phillips, chief judge for Kentucky's 37th Judicial Court, chose her majors to prepare her for a career in law. “The study of English and history will allow me to gain experience in conducting research, analyzing large and diverse bodies of information, and logical argumentation, which will help to prepare me for a legal career.”
After graduation, Braun plans to attend law school.
Odalys Garcia, the daughter of Juana and Noe Garcia, used her scholarship to study abroad in Paris and learn about the city’s business industry firsthand. During her time in France, she was able to create a written report and presentation about potential growth and product strategies for an international business related to the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.
Garcia credits her French professor Livia Heidelberger as a considerable influence on her deciding to study abroad. “I wanted to learn a third language and by taking her class, I was able to learn a lot of French and utilize that skill during my time in Paris.”
The son of Max Dhemby and Ruth Moussabou, Emmanuel Dhemby Moussabou is using his Gilman to travel to Paris to participate in the faculty directed course Health and Healthcare in France from the College of Health Sciences with assistant professor, Christy Brady, Ph.D., and program director, Sarah Kercsmar, Ph.D.
“I look forward to all that I will learn from and about the health care in France and the French people's lifestyle. I will also take this time to visit and explore and even see family.”
At UK, he has participated in research on financial toxicity concerning cancer patients undergoing various treatment and care. He also presented on the topic of long-term care with a focus on “marketing long-term care to high school students” at the Kentucky Association of Health Care Facilities/Kentucky Center for Assisted Living. Currently, he is serving as a PRN student intern at Saint Joseph Health.
Dhemby Moussabou credits not only Kercsmar as an influence but also assistant professor, Karen Clancy, Ph.D., and advisor Casey Shadix, Ph.D.
Upon completion of his degree, Dhemby Moussabou plans to pursue a Ph.D. “As I am entering into my senior year, I have made it my goal to leave behind a legacy in the Dhemby name. It is my goal and personal responsibility to make it so the Ph.D. title will always be associated with the Dhemby name.”
About the UK Office of Nationally Competitive Awards
The UK Office of Nationally Competitive Awards assists current undergraduate and graduate students and recent alumni in applying for external fellowships scholarships funded by sources (such as a nongovernment foundation or government agency) outside the university. These major awards honor exceptional students across the nation. Students who are interested in these opportunities are encouraged to begin work with the office's director, Pat Whitlow, well in advance of the scholarship deadline.