Kentucky Eta’s Deven Richardson of Bowling Green, Kentucky was recently awarded a Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship of up to $5,000 to take his studies overseas.
Richardson, a second-year Political Science and Criminology major, is the son of Christy Richardson. He will be spending the spring semester studying in Japan at Kansai Gaidai University. After graduation, Richardson plans to pursue law school and a career working with international corporations.
“None of this would have been possible without the amazing advisors at the Office of Scholar Development and the Office of Study Abroad and Global Learning,” Richardson said.
Cory Dodds, Coordinator of Nationally Competitive Opportunities for the Office of Scholar Development, said: “Studying abroad enriches the undergraduate experience by broadening students’ worldviews and understanding. International study also prepares students for a workforce in an increasingly globalized world. The Gilman Scholarship makes international education possible for students who may not otherwise have the opportunity.”
Funded by the U.S. Department of State, more than 2,800 Gilman scholarships will be awarded this academic year for undergraduate Pell Grant recipients to study or intern abroad. The program is intended to increase the number of students traveling to nontraditional destinations and increase diversity in study abroad by funding students of underrepresented groups, including ethnic minorities; students studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics; and students with disabilities.
Richardson worked with the Office of Scholar Development at WKU in preparing his Gilman Scholarship application and with the Office of Study Abroad and Global Learning to find the best academic program abroad to fit his goals.
