Diplomacy Student Awarded Prestigious Gilman Scholarship

Sophomore Allison Bennett has been awarded the U.S. Government Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, which will make it possible for her to study abroad in Germany in 2026 this summer. Bennett, a native of Williamston, Michigan State, is pursuing a 5-year B.S./M.A. program in Diplomacy and International Relations. She is also majoring in philosophy and has a minor in German. 

The Gilman Scholarship is a prestigious, nationwide, merit-based academic program that supports young Americans who wan to study abroad. The scholarship aims to develop a generation of future leaders by strengthening career skills and intercultural networks, advancing mutual understanding and representing American culture and values, all of which are critical to national security.

With encouragement from Associate Dean Martin Edwards, Ph.D., Bennett applied for the Gilman Scholarship. She expressed her gratitude to the School of Diplomacy for the valuable guidance she received: "This scholarship represents both access and affirmation to me," she said. "It affirms that global engagement and study abroad are not privileges reserved for a few, but opportunities that students from any background can and should pursue. Receiving this scholarship made the idea of studying abroad feel not just aspirational but genuinely attainable, and it reinforced my belief that international education should be inclusive and accessible."

A motivated student, Bennett holds several leadership roles in organizations on campus and is strongly committed to international affairs and global engagement. Bennett is part of the School of Diplomacy’s marketing team and serves as public relations chair for the John Quincy Adams Society and as communications liaison for The Diplomatic Envoy, the school's newspaper. Bennett's active leadership roles on campus helped her Gilman Scholarship.

Her dedication and perseverance in diplomacy underscore the importance of fully embracing the opportunities available at the School of Diplomacy. Bennett notes that the scholarship has made it possible for her to study abroad this summer, which aligns with her focus on academics, international relations, German philosophy and German language. She adds: "Experiencing Germany firsthand will deepen my understanding of diplomacy and international cooperation in ways that cannot be replicated in New Jersey alone. In the long term, I hope to work in diplomacy. This scholarship allows me to build early diplomatic skills while reinforcing the idea that global engagement should be accessible to students from diverse backgrounds."

Bennett recommends that  Diplomacy students considering similar scholarships take the first step and ask for guidance on "life-changing opportunities" such as the Gilman Scholarship. This achievement, she says, reflects not just individual effort, but a community that encourages students to think globally and act with purpose.

Bennett's journey exemplifies the qualities that define a driven student and highlights the value of fully leveraging the opportunities offered by Seton Hall.  

Categories: Education, Nation and World