[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 205 (Wednesday, December 13, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H6865-H6866]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING OUTSTANDING PENNSYLVANIA STUDENTS AWARDED BENJAMIN A. 
                    GILMAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from

[[Page H6866]]

Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
10 outstanding students across Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional 
District who have been awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman International 
Scholarship.
  The Gilman program is named after former Congressman Benjamin A. 
Gilman, who served in Congress from 1973 to 2003. He was chair of the 
House International Relations Committee and represented Upstate New 
York.
  Established in 2001, the Gilman program is part of the State 
Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. This 
scholarship sponsors students to study or intern abroad during the 
academic year.
  This program is an important part of the Federal Government's effort 
to expand and diversify U.S. study abroad and allows Americans to gain 
the global competencies that are crucial to our national security and 
our economic prosperity.
  Since 2001, this program has allowed more than 41,000 Americans from 
1,350 U.S. colleges and universities to study or intern in more than 
160 countries. The Gilman program advances people-to-people diplomacy 
and strengthens America's role in the global marketplace.

  The Gilman program continues to expand the American student 
population that studies abroad with nearly 70 percent of Gilman 
scholars identifying as students of color, 60 percent from small towns 
or rural parts of the United States, and nearly 50 percent are first-
generation college students.
  Congratulations to Rik Bhattacharyya, a student from Penn State 
University studying in India; Ashlyn Bird of Lycoming County, a student 
at Drexel University studying in the United Kingdom; Deven Dancy of 
Union County, a student at Susquehanna University studying in Ghana; 
Hannah Dees of Centre County, a student at Juniata College studying in 
the United Kingdom; Shawnee Geletka of Venango County, a student at 
College for Creative Studies studying in Italy; Saoirse Hopp of Centre 
County, a student at University of Pittsburgh studying in Spain; 
Kimberly Johnson of Potter County, a student at Drexel University 
studying in Italy; Luke Kantz of Snyder County, a student at University 
of Pittsburgh studying in India; Rute Pires of Union County, a student 
at Bucknell studying in Ireland; and Casey Sennett of Centre County, a 
student at Penn State University studying in Italy.
  These students are currently studying or interning across the world.
  Good luck in your studies, and enjoy your time abroad.

                          ____________________