\t\t![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Gilman-2026-news-1200x800.jpg\")
(From left) First row: Lana Abboud, Chelsea James, Giselle Martinez, Madison Mager and Zorianna Starks. Second row: Lizzie Alba, Yemaya Adams, Sophia Castro, Brianna Zapata and Niki Navarro Gutierrez. Third row: Nashley Gabriel Cardenas, Adwoa Birago Nsiah Ababio, Madison Northcutt, Gianna Spadafino and Silvia Rodriguez.\u00a0\t\t<\/p>\n
Eighteen Florida State University students will be studying abroad this summer and school year through the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Gilman Scholarship provides undergraduate students with high financial need the opportunity to study or intern in a foreign country. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State\u2019s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the scholarship gives students the chance to become global citizens and active participants in their international community while gaining critical thinking and cultural awareness.<\/p>\n Chelsea James, a junior majoring in social science education with a minor in child development, will participate in the Broad Curriculum Program<\/a> at the FSU London Study Centre<\/a> through FSU International Programs<\/a>. The Broad Curriculum Program includes FSU courses that satisfy requirements for graduation, CoreFSU<\/a> and some majors or minors while living abroad.<\/p>\n After graduation next year, she plans to pursue a career in school leadership and hopes to expand student opportunities and transform the education landscape.<\/p>\n \u201cI am excited to go to London because it will allow me to experience a diverse global culture firsthand while gaining new perspectives that will shape my growth as a future educator and leader,\u201d James said.<\/p>\n Lana Abboud, a sophomore majoring in international affairs with a minor in economics, will participate in the Intensive French program in Paris through FSU International Programs. Students are placed in a language course based on their level of understanding and are taught entirely in French by native French-speaking faculty.<\/p>\n \u201cThis experience will strengthen my ability to engage across cultures and operate in international settings, while building the communication skills essential for diplomacy and global policy work,\u201d Abboud said.<\/p>\n After graduation next fall, Abboud hopes to attend law school or pursue a career as a U.S. diplomat. She is interested in the intersection of international law and foreign policy and how they drive global corporations.<\/p>\n Niki Navarro Gutierrez, a junior majoring in digital media production and minoring in Italian and film, will attend the University of Foreigners of Perugia in Umbria, Italy, through FSU Global Exchanges<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI am extremely interested in the appreciation that Italy, and Europe as a whole, has for film and the resources that are put into it,\u201d Gutierrez said.<\/p>\n Gutierrez has a passion for creating documentaries or fiction films that tell a story about the culture they portray. She says she will benefit from traveling abroad and learning from diverse communities.<\/p>\n \u201cUltimately, I hope to return from Perugia not only with greater fluency in Italian, but also with the personal insight and professional skills to pursue documentary filmmaking on an international scale,\u201d Gutierrez said.<\/p>\n Giselle Martinez, a junior majoring in biological science, will participate in FSU\u2019s Biology in London program<\/a> with FSU International Programs. Martinez will take two courses: Walking in Van Leeuwenhoek\u2019s Shoes: Rediscovering Cell Biology, where students recreate classical experiments that shaped understanding of the cell, and Investigating Questions in Animal Behavior, which examines how development, genetics, and physiology shape behaviors like communication, aggression and sociality.<\/p>\n After graduation next year, Martinez plans to continue studying medicine as a women\u2019s health researcher focusing on endometriosis and other women\u2019s health concerns.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to contribute to the under-researched and underrepresented areas of medicine in which many women find themselves struggling,\u201d Martinez said.<\/p>\n Zorianna Starks, a junior majoring in psychology and minoring in social work, will study abroad in London and Amsterdam this summer through the Council on International Educational Exchange\u2019s (CIEE)<\/a> Comparative Public Health Systems program.<\/p>\n She plans to explore how cultural, social and economic factors influence the delivery of care and access to mental and public health.<\/p>\n \u201cThis experience will allow me to expand my perspective on mental health and public health systems while learning how different cultures address challenges in care and accessibility,\u201d Starks said.<\/p>\n Starks also received funding through the Global Scholars Program<\/a>, run by the Center for Undergraduate Research and Academic Engagement<\/a>, and the Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement<\/a> to support her study abroad experience.<\/p>\n \u201cAs someone pursuing a career in psychology and social work, it is important for me to understand diverse populations so I can better support and advocate for individuals from all backgrounds,\u201d Starks said.<\/p>\n She plans to pursue a career as a child therapist, focusing on supporting underserved communities and addressing mental health disparities. Starks hopes this experience will strengthen her cultural awareness and provide insight that will help her make a meaningful impact in both clinical and community-based settings.<\/p>\n Silvia Rodriguez, a freshman majoring in economics, will participate in the Oxford University Consortium on Human Rights and New Technology in England<\/a> with the FSU Honors Program<\/a>.<\/p>\n During the consortium, she will present her findings about the impacts of artificial intelligence on the Florida criminal justice system. Her research focuses on predictive policing, sentencing algorithms and AI-driven immigration enforcement, and analyzing whether these technologies reinforce social biases in an international setting.<\/p>\n \u201cThrough the consortium, I will conduct interdisciplinary research on the ethical and legal implications of AI in the justice system and explore how policy can better protect civil rights in the digital age,\u201d Rodriguez said.<\/p>\n After graduating from FSU, Rodriguez plans to attend law school.<\/p>\n Nashley Gabriel Cardenas, a junior majoring in accounting and minoring in criminology, will study abroad this summer in Strasbourg, France, through FSU Global Exchanges with a focus on business.<\/p>\n \u201cThis summer, I am looking forward to expanding my horizons and networking with students of different backgrounds,\u201d Cardenas said. \u201cGoing abroad will give me the opportunity to understand how Europe approaches sustainability within business organizations with methods that I could apply to my business career.\u201d<\/p>\n She is most excited to create new connections and to make her own path while being exposed to different cultures, branching out of her comfort zone in a new place.<\/p>\n \u201cI never thought I would leave the U.S. during my time studying, and this means I have the power to create my own experiences and learn how to overcome impostor syndrome,\u201d Cardenas said.<\/p>\n Madison Mager, a senior biological science major pursuing veterinary medicine, will intern this summer in Costa Rica through Loop Abroad, an educational veterinary service organization. She will work at the Toucan Rescue Ranch in San Jos\u00e9, the country\u2019s capital, to learn how another culture engages in animal care.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m especially excited to learn from a completely different veterinary environment and gain new perspectives on wildlife care and conservation medicine,\u201d Mager said. \u201cI\u2019m also looking forward to meeting new people, hearing their stories and experiencing another culture firsthand.\u201d<\/p>\n After graduation, Mager plans to attend veterinary school and pursue exotic veterinary and conservation medicine.<\/p>\n Sophia Castro, a sophomore majoring in public health, will participate in the Broad Curriculum Program at the Valencia Study Center<\/a> in Spain through FSU International Programs.<\/p>\n \u201cStudying abroad in Valencia will challenge me to step outside of my comfort zone and engage with new cultures, perspectives, and ways of thinking,\u201d Castro said. \u201cThis experience will help me develop the cultural awareness and adaptability needed to better serve diverse communities and become a more well-rounded and compassionate provider.\u201d<\/p>\n After graduation, Castro hopes to earn a master\u2019s degree in nursing with a long-term career plan of owning a medical spa.<\/p>\n Lizzie Alba, a freshman pursuing a dual degree in psychology and human development and family sciences, will intern abroad in Madrid, this summer with the American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS). She will work with the nonprofit organization YMCA to support parents and children in the community. She also received funding through FSU\u2019s Global Scholars Program.<\/p>\n \u201cAs someone who aspires to become a marriage and family therapist, these interactions with both parents and children will provide me with valuable hands-on experience and a deeper understanding of the field,\u201d Alba said. \u201cThrough this experience, I hope to become even more culturally sensitive.\u201d<\/p>\n Alba is excited about the opportunity to work with families in a new environment and learn about the cultural implications that come with a new domain.<\/p>\n Brianna Zapata, a junior majoring in environment and society and interdisciplinary social sciences, will participate in a language-intensive program in S\u00e3o Paulo, Brazil, this summer through the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE).<\/p>\n \u201cDuring the program, I will be studying topics related to urban sustainability, culture and global perspectives while gaining immersive international experience through coursework and community engagement,\u201d Zapata said.<\/p>\n Zapata also earned a Critical Need Language Award, a supplemental scholarship offered through the Gilman Program. After graduation, she plans to focus on sustainability and conservation and how they impact underserved communities.<\/p>\n To learn more about the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship, students can email FSU\u2019s Office of National Fellowships<\/a> for an advising appointment. For more information about International Programs, visit international.fsu.edu<\/a>. To learn more about Global Exchanges, visit cge.fsu.edu\/global-programs<\/a>.<\/p>\n This year\u2019s Gilman Scholarship recipients, their destinations and majors are:<\/p>\n Yecenia Padron; Panama; Human Development and Family Sciences<\/p>\n Lana Abboud; France; International Affairs<\/p>\n Mya Ncastanedo; Spain; Media and Communication Studies<\/p>\n Nicole Navarro Guti\u00e9rrez; Italy; Digital Media Production<\/p>\n Chelsea James; United Kingdom; Social Science Education<\/p>\n Brianna Zapata; Brazil; Environment and Society and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences<\/p>\n Zorianna Starks; United Kingdom and the Netherlands; Psychology<\/p>\n Lizzie Alba; Spain; Psychology and Human Development and Family Sciences<\/p>\n Giselle Martinez; United Kingdom; Biological Science<\/p>\n Yemaya Adams; South Korea; Information Technology<\/p>\n Silvia Rodriguez; United Kingdom; Economics<\/p>\n Nashely Gabriel Cardenas; France; Accounting<\/p>\n Sacha Chiche Gallardo; France; Behavioral Neuroscience<\/p>\n Madison Northcutt; United Kingdom; Communication Science & Disorders<\/p>\n Sophia Castro; Spain; Public Health<\/p>\n Madison Mager; Costa Rica; Biological Science<\/p>\n Gianna Spadafino; Thailand; Communication and Public Relations<\/p>\n Adwoa Birago Nsiah Ababio; Spain; Food Science and Nutrition<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"(From left) First row: Lana Abboud, Chelsea James, Giselle Martinez, Madison Mager and Zorianna Starks. Second row: Lizzie…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":285630,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[6036,74174,56741,66249,56749,66251,66229,106412,121156,62378,56750,66255,66256,66258,232,234,233],"class_list":["post-285629","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tallahassee","tag-care","tag-center-for-academic-retention-and-enhancement","tag-center-for-undergraduate-research-and-academic-engagement","tag-division-of-student-academic-success","tag-fsu-global","tag-fsu-honors-program","tag-fsu-international-programs","tag-fsu-london","tag-gilman-scholarship","tag-global-exchanges","tag-global-scholars-program","tag-honors-program","tag-office-of-national-fellowships","tag-student-academic-success","tag-tallahassee","tag-tallahassee-headlines","tag-tallahassee-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/285629","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=285629"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/285629\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/285630"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=285629"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=285629"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=285629"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"headshot](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Chelsea-James-256x256.jpg\")
Chelsea James<\/p>\n![\"Headshot](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Lana-Abboud-256x256.jpg\")
Lana Abboud<\/p>\n![\"Headshot](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Nicole-Navarro-Gutierrez-256x256.jpg\")
Niki Navarro Gutierrez<\/p>\n![\"Headshot](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Giselle_Martinez-256x256.jpg\")
Giselle Martinez<\/p>\n![\"Headshot](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Zorianna_Starks-256x256.jpg\")
Zorianna Starks<\/p>\n![\"Headshot](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Silvia_Rodriguez-256x256.jpg\")
Silvia Rodriguez<\/p>\n![\"Headshot](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Nashely-256x256.jpg\")
Nashley Gabriel Cardenas<\/p>\n![\"Headshot](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Madison_Mager-256x256.jpg\")
Madison Mager<\/p>\n![\"Headshot](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Sophia_Castro-256x256.jpg\")
Sophia Castro<\/p>\n![\"Headshot](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Lizzie_Alba-256x256.jpg\")
Lizzie Alba<\/p>\n![\"Headshot](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/BriannaZapata-256x256.jpg\")
Brianna Zapata<\/p>\n