Two USI Romain College of Business students receive prestigious scholarship for study abroad

A pair of University of Southern Indiana students from the University of Southern Indiana’s Romain College of Business were recently selected as scholarship recipients for the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, a prestigious grant program designed to assist undergraduate students in the United States with financial need for studying or interning abroad.  

Natalia Duron and Ivy Ke, both junior economics majors, were chosen as recipients of the scholarship and will be participating in study abroad opportunities this summer.  

The scholarship is nationally competitive and offers up to $5,000 with additional funding available for students studying critical need languages or conducting STEM-related research abroad. Applications are reviewed holistically, considering factors such as academic preparedness, the impact of the program on the student's academic and career trajectory and the potential community impact, both abroad and upon return. USI’s Center for International Programs offers assistance such as workshops and essay feedback to help USI applicants have the strongest applications.  

Duron, of Huntingburg, Indiana, said that receiving this scholarship was an amazing honor and validation for the effort she has put into her education. 

“It is a meaningful recognition of my hard work and dedication to academics,” Duron said. “This scholarship not only eases the financial burden of studying abroad but excites me even more for my study abroad program.” 

Duron will be traveling to Europe this summer for “USI Castles to Corporations: Studying International Business in Western Europe,” a program led by Dr. Nicholas Rhew, Chair of the Management and Information Sciences Department and Associate Professor of Management. Duron earned a $2,500 scholarship for this opportunity. 

This program allows students to study international business across Germany, the Netherlands and France with a focus on how institutional forces and cultural differences both shape business practices and impact a company’s performance. USI students will learn alongside students from throughout Europe and the world with many classes taking place in Osnabrück, Germany.  

“This study abroad program will allow me to be in an environment full of like-minded peers. I am very excited to meet them and, hopefully, create lifelong friendships,” Duron said. “By the end of this study abroad program, I hope to have learned new things about myself!” 

Ke, of Mount Carmel, Illinois, was equally as grateful to receive the Gilman Scholarship. She was awarded a $5,000 scholarship along with an extra $1,000 scholarship for the Critical Language Need Award. She had always wanted to participate in a study abroad activity but worried about the cost. This scholarship eliminated that stress. “While I was super excited about studying abroad, I was also really stressed about how I was going to afford it,” Ke said. “This scholarship made it possible for me to say yes to this opportunity without constantly worrying about the financial side of things.”  

Ke will be traveling to Shanghai, China, for the CIEE Summer Study Abroad program. Students will be on the campus of East China Normal University while embracing themselves in the culture and atmosphere of one of the world’s fastest-growing cities. Students will also gain real-world international experience and develop valuable professional skills. Ke, who lived in China as a child, said returning this summer will be a ‘full-circle moment.’ 

“I’m most looking forward to reconnecting with my cultural roots, improving my Mandarin and learning more about China’s modern history in the place where it all happened,” Ke said. “I chose this program because it combines cultural immersion with an academic course that helps me better understand the country’s development and its role in the world today, which ties into my interests in international business.”  

Both Ke and Duron believe that their classes in the Romain College of Business have prepared them for these Study Abroad opportunities. They’re excited to be able to share what they’ve learned in the classroom with peers thousands of miles away. 

“My time in the Romain College of Business has given me a strong foundation in understanding global markets, economic systems and business communication,” Ke said. “Classes like international economics have helped me see the bigger picture and made me more confident stepping into unfamiliar environments."