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Story by Logan Jackson
Over the past six years, the U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship has provided funding for more than 100 Mizzou students to further their education across the globe through study abroad. The program enables students with financial barriers to study or intern abroad, providing them with skills critical to U.S. security and economic prosperity.
This summer, four recent Gilman Scholarship recipients traveled to Northern Thailand where they served at Elephant Nature Park, a renowned ethical elephant rescue and rehabilitation center. The program is led by the Mizzou Office of Community Engaged Learning and open to all Mizzou students.
“As volunteers, we assisted the local Thai staff in preparing food for the elephants, including shucking corn, preparing bananas and making banana and rice balls for the older elephants,” said Emma Tolbert, a sophomore animal sciences major who is pursuing the Honors Certificate at Mizzou. “We also helped in various tasks around the park, including clearing waste, pulling weeds from their garden, unloading watermelons and a couple more things. We also spent a lot of time learning about the toil of elephants in Thailand, about how many are being abused and overworked daily.”
Tolbert was joined by Emma Adams, a junior clinical and diagnostic sciences major; Jadyn Eisenlohr, a senior natural resource science and management major; and Arch Kimbriel, a senior animal sciences major who is also pursuing the Honors Certificate.
All four students received the Gilman Scholarship during the 2024-25 academic year.
“Without the Gilman, I likely would not have been able to pay for this experience,” Tolbert said. “Here in college, I am solely financially responsible for everything – tuition, food, housing, etc. So, without the help of the Gilman, I would’ve had to miss out on this very special experience that completely changed my views of life and the world.”
Their work at the Elephant Nature Park also included caring for the numerous cats and dogs that call the park home.
“This experience was really incredible,” Kimbriel said. “I’ve definitely never been up that close and personal with elephants. I’m an animal lover, so being able to interact with all the animals at the park was basically heaven.”
Students explored historic temples, ancient cities and the cuisine of Thailand throughout the experience as well.
“I knew I wanted to participate in study abroad, but it’s very expensive to do so,” Kimbriel said. “The Gilman Scholarship allowed me to take part in an incredible experience that I would not have been able pursue while at Mizzou.”
Many Mizzou students who have received the Gilman Scholarship – as well as other prestigious fellowships and scholarships – work closely with the Office of Global and National Fellowships. Advisors within the office match students with opportunities that align with the students’ goals, and the team supports them at each step in the application process.
Interested in the applying for the Gilman Scholarship? The next application deadline is Friday, Oct. 3. Fellowships advisors are working with applicants now. Visit the Gilman advising webpage for more information and resources.