Nathanael Jean Pierre ’26 Named Gilman Scholarship Recipient

Nathanael Jean Pierre ’26, a physics major from Brockton, Massachusetts, was recently awarded a $3,000 grant through the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program. These funds are being used to support the Stonehill student's experience taking engineering classes at Mahidol University in Thailand. 

“This scholarship represents more than just financial aid; it symbolizes the trust and investment in my potential as a student and a global citizen,” Jean Pierre said. “With this support, I can fully focus on immersing myself in the academic and cultural opportunities that my study abroad experience will offer.” 

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, which strives to foster peaceful collaboration between the United States and other countries, oversees the Gilman International Scholarship Program. The program, which is named after a late New York congressman who served as chair of the Committee on International Relations, is designed to foster students’ leadership skills, foreign language proficiency, and global knowledge.  

The Gilman Scholarship is highly competitive. Each year, only one in four applicants are selected to receive an award. Jean Pierre’s personal statements focused on his journey as a first-generation student and how traveling abroad would align with his goal of becoming an engineer. 

“I also detailed my commitment to giving back by raising awareness of study abroad opportunities for underrepresented students through student-led informational sessions,” Jean Pierre said. “This essay reflected my desire to inspire others to pursue their own global education opportunities.”