Loyola students win Gilman Scholarships from U.S. Department of State

Taariq Eddy, ’24, and Caroline Smuts, ’25, were awarded scholarships from the U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program. Recipients are chosen from a competitive selection process and the award can be used toward any study or intern abroad costs.

“The Gilman Scholarship is particularly special because it’s exclusively for Pell Grant recipients,” said Terre Ryan, Loyola’s director of national fellowships. “This scholarship is extremely competitive, but Taariq and Caroline are very special people. The Gilman program clearly recognized their leadership potential.”

Eddy, who was raised in Baltimore, Maryland, is a veteran who served as an emergency medical technician in the U.S. Army. He's a biology major who hopes to become a trauma surgeon. Eddy studied in Newcastle, England, during the Spring 2023 semester.

“The ability to professionally network with other Gilman Scholars was an exclusive perk of the scholarship,” Eddy said. “The scholarship gave me peace of mind, so I was able to focus on my studies and immerse myself in the culture with my new friends.”

Smuts, who was born and raised in Mystic, Connecticut, is a global studies major who plans to pursue a career in international relations. In the Fall 2023 semester, she will study abroad in Leuven, Belgium.

“This scholarship will help my goals within the Foreign Service,” Smuts said. “I hope to work in the State Department as a Foreign Service Officer. Having this scholarship will help me make global connections that can aid me in my career.”

The mission of the Gilman Program is to develop a generation of future leaders who represent the rich diversity of the U.S. and have the international networks and skills to advance national security and economic prosperity.