UHCL students earn Gilman Scholarships, expanding global learning horizons
University of Houston-Clear Lake students Joshua Bivens, Abigale Chavez, Annabelle Lozano, Wendy Martinez, and Yvonne Mendoza have been awarded the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, a nationally competitive program funded by the U.S. Department of State that enables American undergraduates with financial need to study or intern abroad. Their destinations—New Zealand, France, and the United Kingdom—reflect UHCL’s expanding global engagement and the university’s commitment to making international learning accessible to all students.
Bivens is an English major who journeyed to Harlaxton, United Kingdom, in the summer of 2025 through the UHCL Faculty-Led: English History and Heritage program, where he explored the cultural and literary traditions that shaped British history. Chavez is a fourth-year biology major who participated in the UHCL Faculty-Led: Biotechnology in France program in Lyon and Paris during the summer of 2025, engaging in hands-on biomedical and laboratory research that strengthened her interest in the life sciences. Lozano is a software engineering major who attended the UHCL Faculty-Led: Virtual Lab Software Engineering program in Lyon, France, in the summer of 2025, where she enhanced her technical and collaborative skills through international learning experiences. Mendoza is pursuing studies in international education and attended the Direct Enroll-Featured: University of Waikato – New Zealand program in Hamilton, New Zealand, during the fall of 2025, broadening her global perspective and academic expertise.
“Education Abroad and Scholar Services (EA&SS) was strategic in pushing out email campaigns and digital flyers for this scholarship,” said Dr. Bianca Schonberg, executive director of EA&SS at UHCL. “We also included information in classroom presentations and tabling events. Social media was used, and the key component was our collaboration with the UHCL Writing Center on the Gilman Essay workshops and 1:1 writing support sessions.”
Schonberg said that the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship opens doors for students who might not otherwise be able to afford the cost of international education.
“The scholarship covers costs like program fees, airfare, books, and living expenses, and makes global education more accessible as students can study or intern in 170-plus countries,” said Schonberg. “It also helps UHCL students by expanding their access to global opportunities, boosting career and academic growth, and promoting service and leadership skills.”
For Schonberg and her team, these student achievements represent the heart of what makes their work meaningful. “The work of EA&SS allows us to watch students transform academically, professionally, and personally through global experiences,” she said. “The advisors, Brittany Hamilton, Larisa Landry, and I empower first-time travelers and collaborate across UHCL campuses to create a campus-wide culture of access to global learning."
Gilman Scholar Abigale Chavez
The program represents a major milestone in the academic and personal journey of Gilman Scholar Abigale Chavez, who credits the program with helping her solidify her future career path.
Chavez said she chose to attend UHCL because it offered the balance she was looking for: a supportive academic foundation close to the people who matter most to her. “I chose UHCL because of its peaceful scenery and proximity to home,” she said. “I wasn’t quite ready to move far from my family, but I wanted to continue pursuing higher education in an environment that felt supportive and connected.”
For Chavez, UHCL was a place where she could stay rooted in her community while still pursuing bigger goals. That sense of support helped make studying abroad possible, a dream Chavez had carried since childhood.
“Growing up, I didn’t have many opportunities to travel, and as a first-generation student, no one in my immediate family had ever studied or traveled abroad before,” Chavez said. “This opportunity meant more than just going to another country; it was a step toward independence and creating new possibilities for myself and my younger siblings.”
Chavez first learned about the Gilman Scholarship through Larisa Landry, UHCL’s senior global scholar advisor. “At first, I only saw it as a way of getting a scholarship, until I realized it was much more: a path to personal growth and global awareness,” she said.
With guidance from EA&SS, Chavez felt supported every step of the way. “EA&SS guided me through every stage of the process,” she said. “They kept us updated, reviewed our materials, and held a pre-departure meeting where we met our faculty leaders and fellow travelers. This helped me feel more prepared and reassured about what to expect once abroad.”
Chavez said that she chose France because the program closely aligned with her academic goals. “The Biotechnology/SWEN in France program stood out because it is directly connected to biomedical and laboratory research,” she said. “I made the decision in fall 2024 to pursue biomedical research over clinical practice, and this experience confirmed that choice. It gave me the confidence and inspiration to begin preparing graduate applications to continue in research.”
Although the process came with challenges, Chavez said that determination and collaboration helped her succeed.
“Communication and availability were my biggest challenges,” she said. “The EA&SS team is small but incredibly hardworking, and this was the first year our program officially launched. I overcame these challenges by staying
proactive and patient, asking questions even when they felt small, keeping organized, and giving grace to everyone involved,” Abigale explained. “This experience taught me to balance independence with collaboration and to trust the process, even when things weren’t certain.”
Once abroad, Chavez fully immersed herself in French culture and research life. “I was most excited to meet new people, experience the food culture of France, and dive into the lab work,” she said. “Once there, I formed close friendships with other students and locals, learned about their goals, and found myself even more motivated to pursue my own.”
Studying abroad also built her independence and confidence in unexpected ways.
“This experience challenged me to adapt quickly and think critically under pressure,” Chavez said. “In the lab, I learned to manage time and teamwork in a fast-paced research setting. Personally, it was the first time I had ever lived away from my family. Navigating a new country, budgeting, shopping, and managing my daily routine all on my own made me realize how capable I am.”
She added that her interactions abroad challenged assumptions and deepened her appreciation for cultural openness. “Before traveling, I often heard that French people could be unfriendly, but that couldn’t be further from the truth,” Chavez said. “Everyone I met was kind, patient, and understanding, especially when we were learning to communicate in French. That experience reminded me not to rely on stereotypes and to approach new cultures with an open mind.”
For Chavez and her fellow Gilman recipients, UHCL’s commitment to inclusive education and global engagement has created opportunities that extend far beyond the classroom. Schonberg said that’s the goal. “Our impact is seen in the lives changed and horizons expanded,” she said. “Every student who steps into a new country returns with broader knowledge, deeper empathy, and a stronger sense of purpose. That’s what global education is all about.”
Want to expand your horizons through study abroad at UHCL? Visit www.uhcl.edu/academics/education-abroad/ for more information.
