SPRINGFIELD, Mo., December 18, 2024 — Drury University is pleased to announce that Khania Clark, ’25, a junior majoring in Computer Science and minoring in Law and Society has been awarded the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to study or intern abroad in 2025. Clark will receive a $3,000 grant to support a study abroad experience in Rome, Italy, this May, led by Drury faculty Dr. Jeff VanDenBerg, Chair of the Political Science Department and Professor of Political Science, and Dr. Shelley Wolbrink, Professor of History and Fellow for the National Scholarships and Fellowships.
“Studying abroad through the Gilman Scholarship will provide me with an invaluable opportunity to immerse myself in a new culture, gain a global perspective, and enhance my academic and professional journey,” said Clark. “I understand the values of community and connection, which I will carry with me as I engage with my host community.”
A leader both on and off campus, Clark serves as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Officer for Drury’s Panhellenic Council as well as the Women’s Lacrosse team captain. Her passion for integrating technology with DEI initiatives has inspired her to use her Gilman Scholar platform to promote inclusive study-abroad opportunities both at Drury and in her rural hometown.
“It’s fitting that she would be awarded this prestigious award to study abroad,” said Dr. Wolbrink. “It’s a testament to our strong mentoring and active Fusion curriculum that Khania’s application was highly recognized. This is our sixth Gilman Scholar in three years, so students are connecting their multiple disciplines to speak to larger issues of diversity and equity, and I’m thrilled it’s working.”
Clark joins the ranks of distinguished Drury students who have recently earned the Gilman Scholarship, including Cody Blakley, Ben Roggensees, Olivia Scheberle, Alexia Chaves, and Claire Baker. Over the past three years, six Drury students have been named Gilman Scholars, a testament to the university’s commitment to fostering global opportunities for students.
Funded by the U.S. Congress and administered by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the Gilman Scholarship supports undergraduate students with financial need. The program emphasizes inclusion, with 65% of recipients hailing from rural areas and small towns.
The next application cycle for the Gilman Scholarship opens in January 2025. For more information, visit gilmanscholarship.org.
Congratulations to Khania Clark on this remarkable achievement!
###
Media Contact: Kevin Kropf, Ed.D., Executive Vice President of Enrollment Management, Marketing & Communications | Office: (417) 873-7524 | Email: kkropf@drury.edu