Lindenwood University student Jack Gietl was recently awarded the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for his study abroad experience in Uruguay.

Gietl, a junior majoring in elementary education, is Lindenwood’s second Gilman Scholarship recipient. In 2023, Krislyn Gilbertsen became Lindenwood’s first recipient.

The Gilman Scholarship Program launched in 2001 and is administered by the Institute of International Education. It supports students with limited financial resources pursuing international internships and study abroad programs. More than 4,000 students across the country apply for the award each academic year.

During winter break, Gietl took part in a three-week study abroad program in Montevideo, Uruguay, and Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he immersed himself in different cultures. In Uruguay, Gietl took a field trip to the resort city of Punta del Este, where he spent time on the beach and attended a local soccer match, which was “one of my best memories of the trip,” he said.

In Buenos Aires, Gietl took in the city’s sites, toured local neighborhoods, and tried local cuisine. Additionally, he spent a weekend in Ushuaia, Argentina – a city recognized as the world’s southern-most city. There, Gietl hiked through the Patagonia wilderness and saw penguins in the wild.

"My time during my study abroad trip was incredible,” he said. “The trip was truly once in a lifetime, and I was so lucky to get to experience two different countries. With it only being three weeks, I was able to enjoy a trip abroad without worrying about being gone a semester.”

The Gilman Scholarship highlights Lindenwood’s growing study abroad program, which aims to educate students on different cultures and experiences around the globe. It also spotlights Lindenwood’s commitment to real experience and real success by making its study abroad program an inclusive and affordable opportunity.