KINGSTON, R.I. – July 30, 2026 – Three University of Rhode Island students from the southern New England area have been chosen to receive the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship.

The Gilman Scholarship program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, provides students with funding to pursue credit-bearing academic studies and career-orientated internships abroad. Such opportunities equip Gilman Scholars with international experience, foreign language skills and global networks that are vital to advancing the United States’ economic competitiveness and national security.

Since the program began in 2001, more than 50,000 U.S. students have been awarded Gilman Scholarships to study or intern abroad in more than 170 countries. 

URI’s 2026 Gilman recipients are Meghan Capuano, of Pawtucket, Rhode Island; Ashley Ortiz, of Central Falls, Rhode Island; and Kuranda Ruggiero, of Griswold, Connecticut. They are among the 180 Gilman Scholars the University has produced over the past quarter century. URI is also one of the top Gilman Scholar-producing institutions in the country.

Meghan Capuano, a senior majoring in psychology, is studying this summer in Denmark and says her educational experiences there will expand beyond the traditional classroom setting. Capuano says she and fellow international students interviewed Denmark residents about their experiences with the country’s overall well-being, and asked for their perspectives on how community spaces contribute to positivity and quality of life. That gave Capuano the curiosity and confidence to create connections she wouldn’t have otherwise made, she says.

Capuano hopes to work as an elementary school counselor where she can support children’s development. Long term, she hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in psychology and potentially become a university professor specializing in developmental psychology.

“My study abroad experience through the Gilman Scholarship has helped advance my career goals by creating opportunities to overcome personal challenges driving me to build greater confidence and resilience,” Capuano said. “This experience has emphasized the importance of developing healthy coping strategies and building resilience in my own life so that I can better support others as they learn to navigate their own challenges.”

Ashley Ortiz, who is majoring in international studies and politics, will travel to Spain for her fall semester as a junior. Along with looking forward to visiting Barcelona, Santa Monica and Madrid and embracing her Spanish heritage, Ortiz is also seeking to improve her Spanish-speaking skills in the hopes of one day potentially working for the government—possibly in immigration helping people become established in the United States.

“I’m looking forward to improving my communication and speaking with the citizens in Spain in my time there,” Ortiz said. “This scholarship opportunity will be a major help in leading me to a strong career one day. Once I return from Spain, I’m hoping this could lead to some internship opportunities in the near term.”

Kuranda Ruggiero, a senior majoring in political science, will spend the fall semester in Tajikistan after receiving the Gilman Critical Need Language Award to further learn the Persian language Farsi. CNL awards are granted to recipients who study or intern abroad where a language is deemed critical to U.S. national security and economic prosperity is predominantly spoken.

Ruggiero began learning Farsi while attending the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, before coming to URI. She hopes to become a foreign service officer, and proficiency in Farsi would enable her to communicate with a broader group of people and officials, building off experience with cross-cultural communication in military and civilian settings.

“Receiving the Gilman Scholarship is crucial for me to have this educational opportunity to study abroad,” Ruggiero said. “I am looking forward to immersing myself in Tajikistan’s culture and seeing all of the beautiful sights and history. I’ll only be speaking Farsi throughout my time there, which will greatly improve my language capabilities.”

Information about the Gilman Scholarship program, and other study-abroad opportunities at URI, is found on the University’s International Center website.