HPU Junior Awarded Gilman Scholarship to Study Abroad in Italy

HIGH POINT, N.C., Jan. 6, 2026 – High Point University junior Stephanie Johnson, an international business major with minors in marketing and Italian studies, has received the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to study abroad for the spring semester at the Lorenzo de’ Medici Institute in Florence, Italy.

The Gilman Scholarship is a competitive national award for Pell Grant recipients offered biannually by the U.S. Department of State. As the sixth HPU student to be awarded a Gilman Scholarship, Johnson received $3,000 to support her studies abroad.

“I first learned about the Gilman Scholarship through an email from my study abroad advisor that immediately caught my eye,” said Johnson, who is from Long Island, New York. “As an international business major, studying abroad has always been a goal of mine, and being awarded this scholarship makes that dream so much more attainable.”

In Italy, Johnson will take classes such as international marketing and global luxury management for her major in international business alongside coursework for her minor in Italian studies. She said these courses will broaden her perspective of business across cultures and support her long-term career goals of working in international marketing for an Italian luxury brand.

“It’s rewarding for Stephanie’s advisors in the Office of Global Education to see her hard work pay off in a prestigious award like the Gilman Scholarship,” said Dr. Jeff Palis, vice president of the Office of Global Education.

As vice president of HPU’s Italian Club, Johnson stressed the value of the scholarship’s opportunity for American ambassadorship.

“While in Italy, and especially upon my return, I plan to serve as an ambassador for the United States by sharing my experiences, promoting cultural understanding and encouraging other students, especially those who may not think study abroad is possible for them, to pursue opportunities like the Gilman Scholarship,” she said. “I hope to use my story to inspire others to step outside their comfort zones and experience the world.”

For more information about the scholarship, which has annual deadlines in March and October, HPU students should contact Dr. James Cotton, director of national fellowships and awards and assistant professor of English.