RIT students receive international fellowships and scholarships to pursue global academic and research opportunities

Rochester, New York – Students at Rochester Institute of Technology are heading overseas in record numbers this year, thanks to a wave of prestigious international fellowships and scholarships that are opening doors to research and cultural experiences around the globe.

A total of 20 RIT students have been awarded fellowships and scholarships through highly competitive programs, including the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, the DAAD RISE program in Germany, the Critical Language Scholarship, and the Fulbright Canada Mitacs Globalink program. These awards allow students to explore academic fields, conduct hands-on research, and experience full cultural immersion while studying or interning in foreign countries.

The largest group of students this year has received the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, a nationally competitive award funded by the U.S. Department of State. Designed to promote international learning among students who might not otherwise have the opportunity to study abroad, the scholarship supports cultural exchange and language development in a global setting.

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“We are so pleased that our talented students continue to be recognized by earning these distinguished fellowships and scholarships,” said Jenny Sullivan, director of Education Abroad and International Fellowships at RIT. “This is a testament to the high level of dedication and commitment to their studies, as well as the importance of immersing oneself in different cultures and learning environments. These experiences will undoubtedly contribute to their short-term and long-term successes.”

This year’s Gilman scholars will be traveling to countries such as Japan, Croatia, Italy, and Greece, where they will combine academic work with the opportunity to gain new perspectives.

In Japan, five RIT students will spend time expanding their studies and cultural knowledge. Those students are:

• Jeremiah Henderson, an applied modern languages and culture major focusing on Japanese
• Ignacio De Orbe and Lilly Anastasia Radon, both game design and development majors
• Samir Samal, a computing exploration option major
• Emily Francisco, a computer engineering technology major

Meanwhile, Croatia will host a diverse group of Gilman recipients:

• Joshua VanNostrand, a management information systems major
• Louis Jon LaGambino, studying mechanical engineering technology
• Mamadou D’Elhadj Bah, majoring in web and mobile computing
• Breanna Litviak, a double major in hospitality and tourism management and marketing
• Kelsey Luke, studying new media design and computational mathematics

Two more students, Jaimison Grimes, an industrial design major, and Ashley Locatelli, a cybersecurity major, will head to Italy, while Delana Perkins, majoring in civil engineering technology, will take her studies to Greece.

But the Gilman program is just one of several prestigious initiatives RIT students are participating in this year.

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Two students have earned placement in the DAAD RISE (Research Internships in Science and Engineering) program in Germany. This fellowship matches undergraduates with research teams at German universities, where they work directly with Ph.D. mentors on innovative science and engineering projects.

This year’s DAAD RISE recipients are:

• Nicholas Atteck, a biomedical engineering major
• Anna Piccione, pursuing a master’s degree in artificial intelligence

In another highly selective program, Ava Inkseep, a cybersecurity and applied modern language and culture – Chinese option double major, was awarded the Critical Language Scholarship. Through this U.S. State Department initiative, Inkseep will study at Dalian University of Technology in China, where she will spend a semester immersed in Chinese language and culture.

Rounding out this year’s international honors, five students have been selected to participate in the Fulbright Canada Mitacs Globalink program. This fellowship enables U.S. students to work closely with faculty at Canadian universities for a 10- to 12-week summer internship, conducting research in disciplines ranging from science to the humanities.

Those chosen for the Fulbright Canada Mitacs Globalink program are:

• Ezra Bernstein, a computer science major
• Jacqueline Driehaus, majoring in environmental science
• Victoria Prendergast, studying biomedical engineering
• Leah Robinson, a biotechnology and molecular bioscience major
• Valentine Webster, majoring in psychology

These fellowships mark a significant achievement for RIT’s international education initiatives, reflecting a growing interest among students to pursue studies that go beyond the classroom and across borders.

With opportunities stretching from Asia to Europe and North America, RIT students are proving that global engagement is no longer a distant dream—it’s a vital part of their education and personal growth. Thanks to these prestigious programs, students are gaining critical skills, expanding their worldviews, and building a foundation for careers that will thrive in a globally connected world.