March 16, 2018

Leimkuhler awarded Gilman scholarship to study abroad

By Hannah Brod, media relations assistant

Northwest Missouri State University student Alexandra Leimkuhler is a recipient of a prestigious scholarship to support study abroad opportunities.

The U.S. Department of State recently announced Leimkuhler is among 1,000 American undergraduate students from 386 colleges and universities to receive the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship.

Gilman scholars receive up to $5,000 to apply toward their study abroad or internship program costs. The Gilman scholarship supports American undergraduate students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad and, since 2001, has enabled more than 24,000 students of diverse backgrounds to engage in meaningful educational experiences abroad.

Leimkuhler will study abroad this summer in Dublin, Ireland. The eight-week experience consists of a two-week course and a six-week business internship. She hopes to further her business skills and learn more about the culture.

“I am paying my own way through college without any help from my family, so this is a big deal, and the Gilman made it a lot less stressful for me to afford this trip,” Leimkuhler said.

Leimkuhler, a junior business management and human resources major from Kansas City, Missouri, said she chose to attend Northwest because it was affordable and was surprised by the amount of support she received from faculty and staff.

“Anytime I need to talk, anyone here will listen,” Leimkuhler said. “It is the best feeling ever to know that I can count on so many people to be there for me. I honestly cannot imagine myself anywhere else but here.”

Dr. Ben Blackford, an associate professor of management and Leimkuhler’s academic advisor said, “Alexandra strives to excel in all aspects of her program. She has a broad range of interests and this award will provide her a great opportunity to study abroad, which I know she will use to expand her knowledge and see how the global environment affects all her areas of study.”

For more information about study abroad experiences offered by Northwest, visit www.nwmissouri.edu/international/studyabroad/.