Joshua Barnhart Named Recipient of the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship

2016 Sep 8

Castleton senior Joshua Barnhart, a dual Spanish and Criminal Justice major, will spend the fall semester surrounded by the deep-rooted culture, native language and architecture of Cusco, Peru after recently being named the recipient of the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, a prestigious national study abroad scholarship.

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the highly competitive Gilman Scholarship program provides awards for U.S. undergraduate students to participate in credit bearing, career-oriented study and intern abroad programs worldwide. The program broadens the student population that studies abroad and is intended to better prepare U.S. students to assume significant roles in an increasingly global economy and interdependent world.

"I'm very honored to have won this scholarship," said Barnhart, "My dream to study abroad was essentially a pipe dream as it was, so without the scholarship it was not a reality for me. I applied knowing it was a long shot, but basically as a prayer to have some help in financing a dream I've had since I was a teenager."

Barnhart marks the forth Castleton University student in the past five years to win this prestigious national scholarship, and will serve as one of over 850 American undergraduate students from 324 colleges and universities across the U.S. selected to participate.

While abroad, Barnhart will be taking classes in Peruvian History and Culture and Latin American and US Relations, as well as studying Spanish. He hopes to enrich his international experience by visiting historical cities and landmarks, such as Machu Picchu, Puerto Maldonado and Arequipa, during his travels.

"The geography is very diverse, so it makes for interesting travel opportunities," said Barnhart. "I'm looking forward to the insight gained about myself, and the world in general, through the experience of living in another country, speaking another language, and adhering to and learning about other customs."