Emma Lindsey, an inclusive early childhood education major in the College of Education and Human Sciences, was selected to receive the U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. She will use the scholarship in the fall when she student teaches in Ireland.
“Receiving any amount of financial assistance is invaluable,” Lindsey said. “I am a student who relies wholly on financial aid and merit-based scholarships to pursue higher education. So, receiving a Gilman Scholarship means I can more comfortably explore learning that expands my knowledge as an educator. The importance of being open to new and uncomfortable experiences, and having the financial support to do so, cannot be understated.”
As part of her student teaching experience, Lindsey will travel to Ireland from late October through early December. After learning in classes about how to best serve children where they are and how to guide and support them regardless of background, Lindsey knew she wanted to participate in an international student teaching opportunity.
“I wanted to experience placing myself in a completely unknown environment, becoming more culturally aware, and learning from professionals in my field that aren’t just here in Lincoln or even in the U.S.,” Lindsey said. “It really excites me to think about the things I will experience, learn and bring into my own teaching practices.
“By putting myself in a new environment, I am embracing the discomfort and the subsequent learning that comes from the experience. I hope to better understand how students might feel if they experience something similar.”
Lindsey is also looking forward to the service project she will complete after she travels.
“I plan to create and bring resources regarding financial aid, including the Gilman, to primarily non-traditional and transfer students,” Lindsey said. “I hope to partner with the Center for Academic Success and Transition (CAST) and Southeast Community College, where I graduated from in 2023, to help students like me understand the resources that are available to them for studying and/or teaching abroad.”
The Gilman Scholarship is a grant program that seeks to support U.S. undergraduate students with high financial need to study or intern abroad. Awards up to $5,000 equip Gilman Scholars with international experience, global networks and foreign language skills essential to advancing the U.S. economic competitiveness and national security.
College of Education and Human Sciences
Child, Youth and Family Studies
CEHS Global Experiences
