Elizabethtown College Students Awarded Highly-Competitive Gilman Scholarship

Elizabethtown College students Mechelle Johnson-Reeves ’28 and Ernest Lloyd ’27 were awarded the highly competitive and esteemed Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship during the 2026-27 academic year.

Part of the U.S Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and supported by the Institute of International Education, the Gilman Scholarship aims to cultivate the next generation of American leaders through funding students to study abroad. Students are given the opportunity to immerse themselves in new cultures, developing linguistic skills and knowledge of international networks.

“Ernest’s and Mechelle’s selections as Gilman Scholars are a testament to their intellectual curiosity, commitment to service, and the transformative power of studying abroad,” Jean-Paul Benowitz, Elizabethtown College Director of Prestigious Scholarships and Fellowships and Public Heritage Studies, said. “Prestigious scholarships like the Gilman do not just fund travel; they validate a student’s potential and expand what they believe is possible for themselves.”

More than 44,000 Gilman scholars have studied or interned in more than 170 countries since the program’s creation in 2001. Since 2009, there have been 36 Etown students named as Gilman Scholars.

Mechelle Johnson-Reeves ’28, International Business and Pre-Law Majors 

During the spring 2026 semester, Johnson-Reeves studied abroad at the University of Malta in the Republic of Malta. Embodying Etown’s mission of Educate for Service, Johnson-Reeves volunteered her time at service agencies in Malta, educating refugees on financial literacy and budgeting.

Johnson-Reeves was also selected as a Volunteer Traveler with Reach the World, highlighting her commitment to global engagement and dedication to sharing the value of international education with others. As part of her work, Johnson-Reeves captured her various experiences abroad through online journal posts and photographs.

Her experiences and stories recounting the history, geography, and daily life in Malta will be used in K-12 curricula nationwide to encourage students’ global curiosity and enhance their understanding of international affairs.

Ernest Lloyd ’27, History Major

Lloyd will study abroad at Marburg University in Marburg, Germany, in the fall of 2026. He received a special designation as a Gilman-German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) scholar. The award is made possible through contributions from DAAD, which aim to increase American student exchange initiatives in Germany. Lloyd will be granted an additional $5,000 scholarship as well as an insurance package, courtesy of DAAD.

Lloyd will also complete a Follow-On Service Project during the duration of his study abroad experience, inspired by his newfound cultural and academic knowledge.

“Being named a Gilman scholar after hours of writing guidance with Professor Benowitz and the Office of Prestigious Scholarships and Fellowships is satisfying and rewarding,” Lloyd said. “This study abroad experience will enable me to experience Marburg, Germany, and the rest of Europe, in a way which enriches and strengthens the imagination behind my future historical academic writing and research.”

About the Office of Prestigious Scholarships and Fellowships

Elizabethtown College’s Office of Prestigious Scholarships and Fellowships works with students to help them apply for competitive awards like the Gilman Scholarship, as well as identify opportunities that align with their academic and professional goals. Etown students who are interested in opportunities available through the office are encouraged to contact Jean-Paul Benowitz, Director of Prestigious Scholarships and Fellowships and Public Heritage Studies (benowitzj@etown.edu / 717-361-1110), Myer Hall, Honors Center. Learn more at etown.edu.