Three Susquehanna University students were awarded the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, supporting their study-abroad experiences in Ireland and the Netherlands.
Susquehanna’s Gilman scholars receiving up to $5,000 through the scholarship are:
- Jayden Checket ’26, a psychology major from Lebanon, Pennsylvania, will study at Maastricht University’s International Summer School in The Netherlands.
- Evelyn Horn ’27, a psychology major from New Columbia, Pennsylvania, will study in Galway, Ireland.
- Lindsay Millage ’27, a double major in accounting and business analytics from Olyphant, Pennsylvania, will study at the University of Galway in Ireland.
Receiving a record high of 17,000 applications across the 2024–25 academic year, the U.S. Department of State has awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to 3,500 American undergraduate students from all 50 states and the District of Columbia in spring 2025 to study abroad in over 170 countries. Over 70% of selected Gilman Scholars are from rural areas and small towns across the United States, and 55% are first-generation college students. Gilman Scholars are U.S. undergraduate students with high financial need as federal Pell Grant recipients.
“I pursued the Gilman award to support my dream of studying abroad. This scholarship makes it possible for me to gain global experience, grow personally and achieve my academic goals,” Millage said. “I plan to become a forensic accountant. Studying abroad will give me a global perspective and help me build the critical-thinking and adaptability skills needed to investigate financial crimes in an international context.”
Gilman scholars 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.
Madison Hoy ’26 gets global perspective on conservation
Madison Hoy ’26, an environmental studies major from Shamokin, Pennsylvania, studied at Maastricht University in the Netherlands during the spring 2025 semester. The experience allowed her to explore local culture as well as nearby countries including Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg and Sweden.
After graduating, Hoy plans to pursue a career in the state or National Park Service.
“My love for the outdoors led me to choose a major in environmental studies,” said Hoy, of Shamokin, Pennsylvania. “I’ve always felt grateful to grow up in a state with such a great park system and have always wanted to be a part of it.”
Her experience in Maastricht gave her a global understanding of conservation.
“Studying abroad is such a valuable opportunity, and this award has allowed me to make the most of my experience abroad,” Hoy said. “I want to work in conservation in the future. Studying abroad expanded my understanding of how different countries approach conservation and environmental initiatives and gave me a broader, more global perspective on the challenges and solutions in this field.”
Of the total applicants across the country, only about 25% receive an award. More than 45 Susquehanna students have been awarded the scholarship since 2015. The university has a dedicated program in place to identify and mentor students throughout the application process for Gilman and other prestigious scholarships.
