Michelle Otero, a senior majoring in aerospace and mechanical engineering, has been awarded the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship by the U.S. Department of State to study abroad Spring 2016 in Spain. She is one of approximately 800 undergraduate students from 355 colleges and universities across the U.S. selected to receive the prestigious scholarship.

Otero is a PRIME STEM/Student Support Services (TRiO) scholar. She spends most of her time studying and working in the Propulsion and Energy research lab, and was previously involved greatly in the National Society of Black Engineers. She plans to graduate in Spring 2017 and pursue her Ph.D. In her free time, she enjoys reading, baking, exercising at the gym and watching Netflix. Although Otero was born and raised in Miami, both of her parents are of Honduran descent.

“I am extremely grateful to have been selected as one of the recipients of the Gilman Scholarship,” said Otero. “I have always dream of studying abroad and now thanks to this scholarship I will have the opportunity to make it come true. I will be able to further my engineering education in Spain without having to worry about my expenses.”

The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Gilman scholars receive up to $5,000 to apply towards their study abroad or internship program costs. The program aims to diversify students who study and intern abroad and the countries and regions where they go. Students receiving a Federal Pell Grant from two- and four-year institutions who will be studying abroad or participating in a career-oriented international internship for academic credit are eligible to apply.

Scholarship recipients have the opportunity to gain a better understanding of other cultures, countries, languages and economies — making them better prepared to assume leadership roles within government and the private sector.

The full list of students who have been selected to receive Gilman Scholarships is available at: www.iie.org/gilman.