The scholarships will allow the undergraduate students to “travel abroad this summer without financial constraints,” a WVU release states.

Abigail Sherrill, an interior architecture major from Elkins, is receiving the scholarship for travel to Western Europe.

Josslyn Rice, a criminology major from Buckhannon, is receiving the scholarship for travel to Spain.

The students received the competitive national award funded by the U.S. State Department to participate in “transformative study abroad experiences,” according to the release.

bigail Sherrill, of Elkins and Josslyn Rice, of Buckhannon, above, are among 18 West Virginia University students to have earned Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships.

“We’re incredibly proud of our students for recognizing the value in studying abroad and continuing to be competitive for the Gilman Scholarship,” Katy Ferrari, assistant director of the WVU ASPIRE office, said.

“These awards are not only a testament to their drive and potential, but also to the importance of collaboration. The ASPIRE Office and WVU Office of Global Affairs work together to support students through the application process and to help ensure a successful international education experience.”

The Gilman Scholarship recipients are:

∫ Ethan Barahona, a marketing major from Martinsburg, for travel to Japan.

∫ Bella Botero, a nursing major from Lansdale, Pennsylvania, for travel to Spain.

∫ Alexa Gamarra, a political science and international studies double major from Fairfax, Virginia, for travel to France.

∫ Annabella Gorostieta, an economics major, for travel to Kenya.

∫ Alexis Hicks, an interior architecture major from Charleston, for travel to Western Europe.

∫ Karina Leach, an environmental and natural resources economics major from Lancaster, Ohio, for travel to Italy.

∫ Lauryn Lynch, a criminology major from Gnadenhutten, Ohio, for travel to Spain.

∫ Alexander Nichols, a psychology major from Ravenswood, for travel to the United Kingdom

∫ Josslyn Rice, a criminology major from Buckhannon, for travel to Spain.

∫ Elijah Riggleman, a history major from Morgantown, for travel to the Czech Republic.

∫ Holly Rogers, a sport, exercise and performance psychology major from Rockville, Maryland, for travel to Peru.

∫ Abigail Sherrill, an interior architecture major from Elkins, for travel to Western Europe.

∫ Gabriele Smith, a philosophy major from Forestville, New York, for travel to Thailand.

∫ William Snidow, a philosophy major from Charleston, for travel to France.

∫ Chloe Thomas, a psychology major from Martinsburg, for travel to London.

∫ Alexia Whitehair, an anthropology major from Pennsboro, for travel to the United Kingdom.

∫ James Williams, an exercise physiology major from Moorefield, for travel to Switzerland.

∫ Sarah Wilson, a psychology major from Wheeling, for travel to Switzerland.

The ASPIRE Office supports WVU students interested in applying for this and other national competitive awards.