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Media Relations
Kansas State University
9 Anderson Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506
785-532-6415
media@k-state.edu

Information provided by K-State Media Relations, K-State's news service, may be reproduced without permission. The marks and names of Kansas State University are protected trademarks and may not be used in any commercial or private endeavor without the approval of the university.

Sources: James Hohenbary, 785-532-6904; Jennifer Crainshaw,
jcrainsh@k-state.edu; and Samuel Brinton, sbrinton@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Cheryl May, 785-532-6415, may@k-state.edu

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

K-STATE'S TWO GILMAN SCHOLARS BRING UNIVERSITY'S TOTAL TO 22

MANHATTAN -- Kansas State University students Jennifer Crainshaw, Olathe, and Samuel Brinton, Perry, Iowa, have received the 2008 Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, an honor worth up to $5,000 for study abroad. Crainshaw will study in Ghana and Brinton in China.

"In the past few years, we at K-State are placing an increased priority on study abroad," said M. Duane Nellis, provost and senior vice president. "Our Gilman scholars will be involved in promoting international study opportunities when they return from their studies in Ghana and China. International experiences broaden students' horizons. In a world that is increasingly global in nature, it is vital that K-State students have the opportunity to study abroad to increase their understanding and potential to be successful in a global economy and interdependent world."

The Gilman asks winners to propose a service project to promote study abroad after they return. "I think the students who win Gilman scholarships tend to be individuals who have done a good job of thinking through how they can reach an audience that will benefit from hearing about their experiences abroad," said James Hohenbary, K-State assistant dean for nationally competitive scholarships.

More than 1,200 scholarships of up to $5,000 will be awarded this academic year for U.S. citizen undergraduates to study abroad, Hohenbary said. K-State has been competitive among other universities for Gilman scholarships. With these two latest winners, 22 K-State students have won Gilman scholarships since the award's inception in 2002.

The Gilman International Scholarship is a congressionally funded program offered through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State and is administered by the Institute of International Education. One purpose of the Gilman Program is to encourage participation by students in a broad range of fields of study, including those not traditionally represented in study abroad.

Crainshaw is a junior in international business with a minor in French. She arrived in Ghana Aug. 9, and is studying at the University of Ghana in Legon.

Crainshaw is taking business and French classes, along with a local Twi language course and African dance lessons. She also plans on volunteering at an orphanage near Accra. She is working to set up an internship doing community development. Her program is taking her study group to the Cape Cost, Kakum, Kumasi and Mole National Park. At K-State, she has been on the university semester honors list and was recognized as the Panhellenic Council's new member of the year. She has received several scholarships, including the Bobby Lonker scholarship, Global Education scholarship and the Kendall Scholarship for Overseas Experience.

She has been a member of Silver Key sophomore leadership honorary and the K-State Student Foundation. She spent her spring 2007 spring break as one of 49 K-State students in New Orleans, working with Camp Restore, a faith-based agency, to repair homes damaged by Hurricane Katrina. The repairs came at no cost to the homeowners, who were elderly and/or disabled. She is the daughter of Mike and Trish Crainshaw, Olathe.

Brinton is a senior in mechanical and nuclear engineering and vocal music performance with a minor in Chinese. He was a member of Silver Key sophomore leadership honorary and Chimes junior honorary. He also is a member of Phi Kappa Phi honor society. He left for China a few days early so he could attend the Olympic games. His classes, which began Aug. 25 at Shanghai University, include intensive language study, international law, government and politics of China, and Tai chi. He also will be doing research in nuclear engineering at a nearby university with a local professor. In addition, he hopes to intern with the Shanghai Opera Company.

At K-State he became the youngest student in history to win the Student Paper Competition at the International Nuclear Engineering Conference. Other honors include an invitation to represent the United States at the International Youth Nuclear Congress; Outstanding Freshman and the next year, Outstanding Sophomore of the K-State department of music; Dow Outstanding Junior of the department of mechanical and nuclear engineering; McNair Scholar; Multicultural Engineering Program Scholar; American Society of Mechanical Engineers National Scholarship recipient; and American Nuclear Society National Scholarship recipient. He also has received the $6,000 K-State Honors Scholarship. His parents are Stephen and Peggy Jo Brinton, Perry, Iowa.