Teenage brains aren’t broken, they’re ready to flourish
March 6, 2026
Northwestern University was recently hailed as one of the nation’s leaders in producing Gilman Scholars.
For 25 years, the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program of the U.S. State Department has provided merit-based scholarships to outstanding American undergraduate students with high financial need to pursue studies and internships abroad.
Since the program began in 2001, more than 250 Northwestern students have received Gilman awards.
“Our students’ quarter-century of success as Gilman Scholars showcases a fabulous partnership forged across units to support our undergraduates,” said Elizabeth Lewis Pardoe, director of the Office of Fellowships. “The process starts with Financial Aid’s identification of eligible students. It continues with the Global Learning Office matching students with appropriate study abroad programs. And it concludes with the Office of Fellowships’ advising on applications.”
A combination of experience, networking and language skills
One of Northwestern’s Gilman recipients, Grace Xie, is a junior in the Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences program at the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. She is passionate about the economics of mental health care. She used her scholarship in 2024 to study in the International Chinese Language Program at National Taiwan University.
“Having struggled with navigating mental healthcare in the past, I hope to pursue a career in mental health economics,” Xie said. “I believe data-driven research and policy can improve treatment, reduce stigma and make care more accessible.”
This summer, Xie will be working as an analyst intern in the life sciences department of Charles River Associates.
Opportunities such as Xie’s equip Gilman Scholars with international experience, global networks and foreign language skills essential to advancing the U.S. economic competitiveness and national security.
Key stats about Gilman Scholars
- 100% have high financial need
- 72% come from small or rural towns
- 49% are first-generation college students
To be eligible for the Gilman program, applicants must be federal Pell Grant recipients.
Learn more about scholarship and fellowship opportunities available to Northwestern students by contacting the Office of Fellowships.
