Bluegrass community and Technical College Student Among 3500 Recipients of U.S. Department of State Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, Supporting American Undergraduate Students with High Financial Need to Study or Intern Abroad

Published on Jun 5, 2025

Lexington, KY – Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC) has been recognized by the U.S. Department of State for producing a Gilman recipient this Spring 2025 cycle. Hudson Holder received a $3,000 Gilman Scholarship to study in Portugal this summer.

"Hudson Holder’s selection as a Gilman Scholar is a tremendous achievement that reflects both his hard work and the high caliber of students at Bluegrass Community and Technical College,” said Dr. Greg Feeney, BCTC President/CEO. “This opportunity to study in Portugal will not only broaden Hudson’s global perspective but also enrich our campus and community when he returns. We are proud to support programs like the Gilman Scholarship that make international education accessible to students from all backgrounds. BCTC students who have studied abroad consistently bring back invaluable skills and insights that strengthen both their careers and our local economy.”

“The competitive Gilman Scholarship recognizes students who will serve as outstanding representatives of the United States and strengthen international relationships through cultural diplomacy”, said Nathan Smith, Associate Dean of Student Success. “Hudson’s selection is a testament to his commitment and his understanding of the inherent value of study abroad and intercultural collaboration.”

The U.S. Department of State has awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to 3,500 American undergraduate students from all 50 states and the District of Columbia in spring 2025 to study abroad in over 170 countries. Over 70 percent of selected Gilman Scholars are from rural areas and small towns across the United States, and 55 percent are first-generation college students. Gilman Scholars are U.S. undergraduate students with high financial need as federal Pell Grant recipients. The Gilman Program received a record high of 17,000 applications across the 2024-2025 academic year.

The governments of France, Germany, through the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), New Zealand, and Wales, as well as the Luso-American Development Foundation (FLAD) in Portugal and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO), provided additional scholarships to Gilman scholars to study in these locations. Established by the U.S. Congress, the Gilman Scholarship is an initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and is aided in its implementation by the Institute of International Education.  The next application cycle will be launched in August 2025.

For more information about the Gilman Scholarship and how to apply for the 2025-26 year, please contact Nathan Smith at nathan.smith@kctcs.edu or visit gilmanscholarship.org.