Six CCNY Undergrads Receive Gilman International Scholarships

Students to study abroad in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East with U.S. State Department funding

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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Six outstanding undergraduates at The City College of New York (CCNY) were among the 29 recipients from CUNY of Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships, which provide support for overseas travel and research. The Gilman Scholarships, administered by the U.S. Department of State, enable students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad, gaining skills critical to national security and economic competitiveness.

Why it matters

The Gilman Scholarship program aims to diversify the students who study abroad, as associate degree students represented just 1.6% of students who studied abroad in the 2023-24 academic year. CCNY's Gilman Scholars come from a range of backgrounds and are pursuing studies in fields like international studies, biology, political science, sociology, and urban studies.

The details

CCNY's Gilman Scholars are traveling to destinations across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Zuha Khan, a senior in the Macaulay Honors College, received a Gilman to study Arabic at the Sijal Institute for Arabic Language and Culture in the Middle East. Susan Lin, a junior in the Macaulay Honors College, completed a medical internship in Morocco. Rachel Olatunji, a Colin Powell School senior, is using her Gilman to fund a semester at Sciences Po in Reims, France. Other CCNY Gilman Scholars traveled to Costa Rica to study tropical marine biology and Japanese culture.

  • The Gilman Scholars will be traveling and studying abroad in Spring 2026.
  • CCNY has produced 283 Gilman Scholars since 2022.

The players

Zuha Khan

A senior in CCNY's Macaulay Honors College, majoring in international studies in the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership. She received a Gilman Scholarship to study Arabic at the Sijal Institute for Arabic Language and Culture.

Susan Lin

A junior in the Macaulay Honors College at CCNY, majoring in biology. She spent the winter session in Morocco completing a medical internship.

Rachel Olatunji

A senior at CCNY's Colin Powell School, double majoring in political science and sociology. She is using her Gilman Scholarship to fund a semester at Sciences Po in Reims, France.

Mariela Roa

A junior at CCNY, majoring in urban studies and the built environment. She recently returned from Costa Rica where she studied tropical marine biology.

Heaven Castillo Tejeda

A senior at CCNY's Colin Powell School, pursuing a BA/MA in psychology. She traveled across Costa Rica collecting plankton samples, visiting national parks, and observing research on ray species.

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What’s next

The Gilman Scholars will complete their international studies and research programs in Spring 2026 and return to CCNY to continue their academic pursuits.

The takeaway

The Gilman Scholarship program is helping to diversify the students who study abroad, providing opportunities for underrepresented CCNY students to gain critical skills and global perspectives that will benefit them and the nation.