Four UR students awarded Gilman scholarships to study abroad; six total Gilman scholars for this year is highest in UR's history

Editor’s note: this media release was updated to reflect an additional scholarship recipient.

Four University of Richmond students have received Gilman scholarships to support study abroad experiences. These four students are in addition to two previous recipients announced earlier this academic year. Six Gilman scholars for 2017-18 is the institution’s record. The previous top year was five scholars in 2011-12.

Cherelle Cotton, a senior from Hampton, Virginia, is participating in the Summer Contemporary Netherlands Studies course in Amsterdam with her Gilman award. Cotton will be examining the local public health system. She is majoring in philosophy, politics, economics and law and minoring in American studies and women, gender and sexuality studies.  

With his Gilman scholarship, Freddy Espitia, a junior from Clifton, New Jersey, is studying abroad in Japan where he is participating in intensive Japanese language instruction and working on an independent service project as part of being a Bonner Scholar.

Natalie McCray, a senior from Greenville, South Carolina, is studying abroad in Stockholm, Sweden. McCray is majoring in psychology and minoring in Russian studies. She will be working as an intern for the non-profit Emmaus Stockholm. Her role will include work promoting peace, human rights and sustainable development.

Alice Vo, a junior from New York City,  has been awarded a Gilman scholarship to study abroad in China this fall. Vo is majoring in anthropology.

Two previous recipients for 2017-18 include Rylin McGee and Tyler York.

More than 65 percent of University of Richmond students complete a study abroad experience before graduating.

University of Richmond has had 24 Gilman Scholars since the program started in 2001.

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 Learn more about the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program at https://www.iie.org/Programs/Gilman-Scholarship-Program.