Gilman at Richmond

When Josie Mastandrea, ’26, stepped off the plane in Rome in the fall of 2024, she felt both excited and overwhelmed. Although she had never traveled abroad before, Mastandrea said leaning into that discomfort became one of the most meaningful experiences of her college career.

“Becoming comfortable with the discomfort of it all led to a beautiful period of growth and discovery for me,” she said.

Mastandrea was able to study abroad with support from the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, a U.S. Department of State initiative that provides scholarships for American undergraduate students with high financial need to study or intern abroad for academic credit. The University of Richmond was recently named a Top Producer of Gilman Scholars. The recognition came during the program’s 25th anniversary celebration.

“This award highlights that we are a national leader in supporting students to be competitive and successful applicants and recipients of major scholarships and fellowships,” said Dana Kuchem, director of the Office of Scholars and Fellowships.

Besides financial accessibility, a sense of expanded perspective and growth is a common theme among Richmond’s Gilman Scholars. Nikoloz Gvelesiani, ’26, experienced it during his junior year when he studied in Budapest, Hungary.

“The memories I gained and the different perspectives I encountered were a great force that changed big parts of my life for the better,” he said.