Kyra Simmons-Thompson, Class of 2027, recently earned a life-changing opportunity to study abroad in Oviedo, Spain, with support from the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship.  

Funded by the U.S. Department of State and administered by the Institute of International Education, the Gilman Scholarship offers up to $5,000 to U.S. citizens with high financial need as federal Pell Grant recipients to study abroad for a semester. A total of 3,500 students in the country were awarded the scholarship in the spring of 2025.      

As a health professions major on a pre-med track aspiring to become a doctor, Simmons-Thompson was interested in studying abroad to learn about people and cultures in different parts of the world. Due to her financial need, she knew the Gilman Scholarship would play a pivotal role in determining whether she would have the opportunity to study abroad. 

In March, she went to Temple’s Education Abroad and Overseas Campuses office, which offered online sessions, including an overview of the Gilman program, on ways to refine her essays and strengthen her application. The next month, she was shocked to receive in an email that she was one of the students selected for the Gilman Scholarship to study abroad. [node:sidebar_text]

“I was screaming. I was not expecting to get the scholarship because of how competitive it is,” said the native of Central New Jersey. “I was just very shocked by the amount I received.”   

On Sept. 19, Temple University will bring together a wide range of its university departments and resources to host its first-ever Gilman Advising Day and Apply-to-Gilman Guarantee event on Main Campus to help encourage more students like Simmons-Thompson to access this opportunity. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Tuttleman Learning Center, Room 200. Temple faculty and staff will be available to help students at any stage of their Gilman Scholarship application process, including an overview of the program and feedback on refining their essays and strengthening their applications. Temple students who attend and submit an eligible application will automatically receive an Education Abroad scholarship of at least $500 toward their study abroad program.

“We try to encourage students to put in effort when applying and it’s like a $500 payday,” said Maureen Gordon, executive director of education abroad and overseas campuses. “We really want to help students increase the quality of their essays and competitiveness for this award.”   

During Simmons-Thompson’s study abroad trip to Oviedo this summer, she took a Principles of Emergency Management: A Public Health Perspective course where she learned about how to be prepared for emergency situations like a global pandemic or a natural disaster like a wildfire or a hurricane. She also took a class that focused on communication, culture and identity. These classes expanded her global perspectives, which she can apply back in the U.S.  

“We talked about different forms of communication and learned how our experience in Spain shaped our communication, especially with the language barrier,” Simmons-Thompson said about the communication class. “From studying the cultural differences of what we perceived every day to writing an emergency evacuation document for the program, the study abroad experience better prepares you to make a meaningful impact once you return home. 

“I noticed Temple really values the student experience. They show a commitment to help students get accepted into the Gilman, which removes a lot of the financial burden,” she added. “It creates opportunities for students to experience long-lasting memories of studying abroad that may not be possible without Temple’s support.” 

This commitment did not go unnoticed. In the spring, Temple was recognized for producing its largest number (13) of Gilman recipients in recent years, a 62.5% increase from last spring. Although the number of recipients increased, Gordon believes they can encourage even more applicants.  

“Temple has been a top producer of Fulbright recipients, and I believe we can achieve the same for Gilman Scholars, especially with the increase in students receiving Pell Grants,” said Gordon. “We want them to know that there is money out there and that they can be successful in getting scholarships.”  

Barbara Gorka, director of scholar development and fellowships advising, will also have her team support students on the university’s Gilman Day. She was motivated to work with Gilman applicants, explaining that they often become Fulbright applicants.  

“There’s a natural connection between Gilman and Fulbright beyond the funding source. The mission of both is to increase the understanding between the people of the U.S. and the people of their host country through exchange,” said Gorka. “It is important that our students, who come from different backgrounds, can go abroad and share their culture with others.”    

She added that students interested in increasing their chances of success with the Gilman program should start the application process early. 

“When students come the day before the deadline, there is only so much we can do,” she said. “One appointment can be the difference between success and not. Once students start working with our office, they often come back.”  

One of the Temple students who benefited from Gorka’s advising was Jose Samayoa, Class of 2026, who also earned the Gilman Scholarship.  

“Barbara Gorka pushed me to go deeper in my essays, to really explain my goals and experiences in a way that showed my passion,” said Samayoa, who is majoring in secondary education with a focus on world languages. “She made me stronger as a writer and gave me more confidence in my application.”  

Samayoa studied abroad in the summer of 2025 in Oviedo, Spain, as part of the Temple in Spain program. He took Spanish literature (Composition) and culture classes (Spanish Culture), which helped him grow as a student and a future teacher. 

“I had deep conversations with people about immigration, how they see U.S. citizens and historical topics like the conquest,” said Samayoa, originally from Guatemala and now based in Philadelphia. “I just started teaching Spanish at the high school level and I’ve already been sharing with my students the idea of studying abroad and looking for scholarships like Gilman. I want them to see that learning a language is not only about grammar or vocabulary, but about connecting with people, cultures and real experiences.”  

For Samayoa, Temple’s commitment to students applying for the Gilman scholarship represents more than just financial support.  

“It gave me the chance to study abroad when I thought it wasn’t possible,” he added. “It helped me take summer courses abroad, which helped me speed up my graduation timeline. It really showed me that students like me, who sometimes worry about money, can still reach these opportunities and grow.”