Warner Robins, Ga. – Central Georgia Technical College’s (CGTC) spring semester Health Sciences Study Abroad program to St. Vincent and the Grenadines will feature a pair of students traveling as Gilman Scholars of the U.S. Department of State.
Keiyanna Clark of Bibb County and Michelle Fulkerson of Houston County, both Registered Nursing students, were named Gilman and Gilman-McCain Scholars, respectively, in December.
Both students will travel January 17-25 to the Island of the Blessed for service-learning as a part of the Global Initiatives study abroad program for the Health Sciences Division.
The U.S. Department of State announced in December that it awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to approximately 1,600 American undergraduate students from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, in the fall 2025 cycle.
This is the first time a Gilman and Gilman-McCain scholar have been awarded to CGTC students in the same award cycle.
For Clark, whose first experience abroad will take place as a student in St. Vincent, she believes insight into how cultural practices and community bonds influence health outcomes will make her a better professional for the workforce back home.
“As a future nurse, I believe healthcare is not limited by borders, and exposure to diverse communities is vital in shaping a compassionate and adaptable provider,” she said. “Volunteering abroad requires flexibility, cultural sensitivity, and a willingness to step outside of one’s comfort zone, which are skills I have worked hard to cultivate and am eager to apply in an international context.”
Fulkerson said becoming a Gilman-McCain scholar goes beyond the financial support to make her international experience a reality.
“Receiving the Gilman-McCain Scholarship means more to me than financial support, she said. “It’s validation.
She added that as a nursing student, military spouse, and mom, this opportunity allows her to step beyond borders and gain global healthcare experience.
“It represents access, equity, and the chance to serve diverse communities while growing as a future nurse,” she said. “It strengthens my ability to give back, both at home and abroad. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to represent military families and to expand my perspective through global learning.”
The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program (Gilman Program) provides up to $5,000 in merit-based scholarships to outstanding American undergraduate students with high financial need to pursue credit-bearing academic studies and career-oriented internships abroad. These opportunities equip Gilman Scholars with international experience, global networks, and foreign language skills essential to advancing the U.S. economic competitiveness and national security.
To be eligible for the Gilman Program, applicants must be receiving a Federal Pell Grant during the time of application or provide proof that they will be receiving a Pell Grant during the term of their study abroad program or internship. The Institute of International Education has administered the program since its inception in 2001.
The Gilman-McCain Scholarship provides awards of $5,000 for child and spousal dependents of active or activated United States military personnel during the time of application.
On average, 65 percent of Gilman recipients are from rural areas and small towns across the United States, and half are first-generation college or university students.
The U.S. State Department will launch a second application cycle in mid-January 2026.
For more information on CGTC’s Global Initiatives programs, visit, www.centralgatech.edu/global.
About Central Georgia Technical College
As one of the largest two-year colleges in the state, CGTC operates three campuses and five centers throughout central Georgia, serving more than 30,000 individuals annually. CGTC is focused on connecting graduates to careers by offering quality education services, assuring a well -qualified workforce to support a healthy local economy. CGTC is a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia and is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. For more information about CGTC, visit www.centralgatech.edu. Like us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/centralgatech), X (@CGTC), and Instagram (@centralgatech).