Recognition highlights the university’s long record of supporting students who receive the U.S. Department of State’s Gilman International Scholarship to study or intern abroad.

Tiffany Acosta, New Mexico State University

LAS CRUCES - Established in 2001, the U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program has provided merit-based scholarships to college students to study or intern abroad, and New Mexico State University has been recognized as a top-producing institution.

NMSU was selected in the medium colleges and universities category and recognized during the celebration of the program’s 25th anniversary. Additionally, NMSU was honored as a top 20 producer in 2021.

“Education abroad is one of the most impactful experiences a student can have during their college career because it combines academic learning with real-world global engagement,” Education Abroad Program Manager Kari Cena said. “Research consistently shows that students who participate in education abroad programs have higher retention and graduation rates.”

The Gilman Program supports scholarships, up to $5,000, to students with high financial need. Applicants must be Pell Grant recipients.

Since 2012, 141 NMSU students have received the scholarship, totaling $472,500 in funding. The average support is a little more than $3,300 per student, but many receive the program’s maximum.

“I have always believed that personal growth happens outside of my comfort zone, which deeply inspired my decision to study abroad,” said Aylin Rios, a senior majoring in biology and microbiology who studied in Spain during the fall 2025 semester. “With my goal of pursuing medicine after undergrad, I felt this was the perfect opportunity to broaden my worldview and build the adaptability necessary for a career in health care.

“This experience reinforced what a blessing it is to learn about other cultures. It truly opened my eyes to new perspectives and allowed me to empathize with the diverse realities of our world today,” Rios said.

The Gilman Program’s mission is to prepare students with the career skills and international networks to advance U.S. national security and economic success. The experience offers students the chance to gain professional skills, language abilities and knowledge of the world needed to enhance their career prospects. The program also encourages students to expand the destinations where students study and intern abroad to cultivate relationships, advance mutual understanding and represent American culture and values.

“Beyond academic outcomes, these experiences help students develop cross-cultural communication skills, adaptability and global awareness – qualities that are highly valued by employers and graduate programs,” Cena said. “Because students can often apply their federal, state and institutional financial aid toward approved programs, study abroad can also be a cost-effective way for students to gain a unique and transformative educational experience.”

Jazmin Moreno, a senior majoring in criminal justice and psychology with a minor in forensic science, will study abroad in the United Kingdom this summer.

“As a first-generation college student at New Mexico State University, opportunities like studying abroad once felt out of reach, even though it has long been a dream of mine,” she said. “Over time, I realized that stepping outside my comfort zone and experiencing other cultures would help me grow both personally and academically.”

A Chaparral, New Mexico, native, Moreno is one of the 72% of Gilman scholars who are from small towns or rural communities. She said she hopes to learn more about how her fields of study are approached in the U.K.

“What I learn from this experience will help me grow, and it is something I will carry with me into my future academic and professional paths,” Moreno said. “Overall, I hope this opportunity helps me become more confident, independent and open to new perspectives.”

“Beyond the core eligibility requirements, the Gilman Scholarship prioritizes applicants from populations historically underrepresented in study abroad, including first-generation college students and students attending Minority-serving Institutions,” Cena said. “As a Hispanic-serving Institution, NMSU serves a highly diverse student population, including many Pell Grant recipients and first-generation college students, so the program’s mission closely aligns with the demographics and needs of our student body.”

Cena said she appreciates Education Abroad advisers Lisa Munson and Bethanie Juarez-Sanchez and the support they provide to students.

“Together, the team works closely with students from the early planning stages through their return to campus. Despite being a small team, the office continues to expand access to education abroad opportunities and scholarship support for NMSU students,” she said.

To assist students, Education Abroad hosts multiple information sessions and scholarship writing workshops during the academic year.

To learn more about NMSU’s Education Abroad programs, visit educationabroad.nmsu.edu.

Tiffany Acosta writes for New Mexico State University Marketing and Communications and can be reached at 575-646-3929, or by email at tfrank@nmsu.edu.