SPRINGFIELD, Mo., May 15, 2024 – Drury University proudly announces Cody Blakley as the latest recipient of the esteemed Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship. Cody, a first-generation student at Drury, exhibits exemplary dedication to his studies, focusing on Accounting, Finance, Political Science, and Middle East Studies. His remarkable academic journey is further enhanced as he prepares to embark on an enriching experience in Rome, Italy, in the upcoming weeks, supported by the generous financial stipend accompanying the scholarship.
“The Gilman Scholarship is important for someone like me to receive. As a first-generation college student and as a member of the LGBT community, I never thought I’d have opportunities to be able to study abroad,” Blakley remarked. “I’m very grateful to the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for giving me the means to complete a study abroad without the financial burden. I’m thankful for my time at Drury which has opened so many doors for me and allowed me to receive such a competitive scholarship.”
Administered by the U.S. Department of State, the Gilman International Scholarship is awarded to approximately 2,100 outstanding American undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The spring 2024 cycle witnessed a remarkable cohort, where 70 percent of recipients self-identified as racial or ethnic minorities, 60 percent hailed from rural areas and small towns, and half were trailblazers as first-generation college or university students.
The impact of the Gilman Scholarship spans across borders, as Cody and his peers prepare to embark on academic endeavors and internships in over 90 countries, representing more than 500 colleges and universities across the United States. Cody’s achievement joins a prestigious lineage of Drury scholars, following in the footsteps of recent awardees Ben Rogenneses, Alexia Chavez, Olivia Scheberle, and Claire Baker.
The National Scholarship Office at Drury is dedicated to helping its students engage with and apply for nationally competitive awards. For more information about the Barry Goldwater Scholarship, visit www.gilmanscholarship.org.
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