Chosen from thousands of applicants from colleges and universities across the U.S., 12 University of Iowa undergraduates were awarded the competitive Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Gilman scholarship recipients receive up to $5,000 to apply toward their study abroad or internship program costs.  Scholarship recipients have the opportunity to gain a better understanding of other cultures, countries, languages, and economies -- making them better prepared to assume leadership roles within government and the private sector.

Nicholas Mueller is a second-year double major in anthropology and linguistics from Bolivar, Missouri. He will be studying this summer in Seoul, South Korea, on the TEAN Korea University program.

"I chose to study abroad in South Korea because I would love to learn more about the language. This program lets me take a language course and be immersed in the culture, which gives me the opportunity to see (and hear) the language in action. You just can't get that sort of experience any way other than studying abroad. 

I imagine this study abroad experience will have great benefits for my future academic plans and my career goals. I will be attending graduate school in linguistics, so exposure to foreign languages will help me in my studies. Down the road, I'd like to teach English as a foreign language. Being in an environment where I don't know the language will help me understand the challenges of living somewhere without speaking the dominant language. I'm sure this experience will make me a more successful teacher.

Studying abroad is super important to me because I have a yearning to travel and learn. I study anthropology and linguistics because human behavior is something I find extremely fascinating. I absolutely must go out and explore the variation in cultures to better understand the core tenants of both my areas of study."

A link to the press release can be found here: https://international.uiowa.edu/news/2022/06/12-ui-students-awarded-2022-gilman-scholarships-study-abroad