Southern Miss Recognized as Top Producer of Gilman Scholars by U.S. Department of State

Mon, 03/16/2026 - 10:14am | By: Jennifer Rigney

The U.S. Department of State has recognized The University of Southern Mississippi as a Top Producing Institution for Gilman Scholars, highlighting the university’s national leadership in supporting students as competitive applicants and recipients of scholarships from the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program.

The designation is part of the Gilman Program’s 25^th anniversary Top Producing Institution campaign, which recognizes U.S. colleges and universities that have supported the most Gilman Scholars from 2001 to 2025. Since the program began, 118 Southern Miss students have received the scholarship.

The Gilman Program provides merit-based scholarships to students with high financial need, supporting opportunities to study or intern abroad while gaining critical career skills that contribute to the nation’s economic competitiveness and security. Established by the U.S. Congress in 2001, the program is celebrating its 25^th anniversary in 2026.

“Southern Miss has built a community of Gilman Scholars, with each student competing on a national level to secure global opportunities,” said Mary Beard, director of Nationally Competitive Programs and Awards at Southern Miss. “This designation speaks directly to the strength of our students, especially when financial barriers are removed. I am thankful for the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, and I look forward to many more years of Southern Miss students building global skills through such a transformative program.”

The Gilman Program is administered by the U.S. Department of State, with funding provided by the U.S. government and implementation support from the Institute of International Education.