Two Auburn University students have been awarded U.S. Department of State Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for Study Abroad

Two Auburn University students, Joshua Blunt and Charles Sands, have been awarded U.S. Department of State Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for study abroad opportunities.

The U.S. Department of State has awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to 3,500 American undergraduate students from all 50 states and the District of Columbia in spring 2025 to study abroad in over 170 countries.

Blunt is a Mechanical Engineering major originally from Lexington, Kentucky. He was awarded a scholarship to complete his business minor in Milan, Italy.

"Studying abroad has allowed me to explore more of the world and see life through the lens of different people. Being able to see new and unique cultures has broadened my perspective of the world around me," Blunt says. "Living in a different country comes with challenges, but the value you gain from it is life changing."

Sands is a double major in Political Sciences and Philosophy originally from Leeds, Alabama. He was awarded a scholarship to study Political Science in Brussels, Belgium.

"I had the opportunity to visit countless institutions, including each branch of the European Union, NATO, and many other NGOs & IGOs," Charles says as he reflects on the impact of his study abroad program on his career prospects. "I was also given the opportunity to participate in the German Marshal Fund's annual Trans-Atlantic Conference in Brussels, where I was able to ask questions and form relationships with foreign diplomats and individuals in their career fields."

Mariel Goble, the Director of Auburn Abroad, says that "students who study abroad show an increase in resilience, independence, confidence, and networking; all salient skills that boost carer and employability outcomes. When programs are developed at Auburn we focus on custom programs so that students can not only gain these skills but know that the programs will also contribute to their academic plan. As a result, students can acquire academic, professional, and personal development, making them truly competitive for the global workforce."

Auburn Abroad will host two workshops during Fall 2025 to assist students interested in applying for the next Gilman application cycle.

Established by the U.S. Congress, the Gilman Scholarship is an initiative of the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and is aided in its implementation by the Institute of International Education. The next application cycle deadline is Friday, October 3, 2025, at 11:59pm Pacific Time. To learn more about the Gilman Scholarship, visit gilmanscholarship.org or email auab@auburn.edu.