SU's Cavaleri Earns Gilman Scholarship for Program in Thailand

By SU Public Relations

SALISBURY, MD---Salisbury University junior Levi Cavaleri has earned the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, awarded by the U.S. Department of State, to study in Thailand this summer.

Cavaleri, an environmental studies major, will use the scholarship to participate in a “Practical Sustainability and Biodiversity” program, offering hands-on experiences exploring ecosystems, conservation efforts, and the relationship between humans and wildlife in one of the world’s most biologically diverse regions.
A native of Fruitland, MD, Cavaleri said studying abroad once felt out of reach, but the Gilman, created to support undergraduate students of limited financial means in studying or interning abroad, made it achievable.

“I’ve wanted to study abroad for a long time, but financially it didn’t seem realistic,” he said. “As a Pell Grant recipient and a resident assistant during the academic year, my schedule and resources are limited. The Gilman Scholarship made this opportunity possible in a way it hadn’t been before.”

Through coursework and field experiences, Cavaleri will study tropical ecosystems, coastal environments and biodiversity unique to Southeast Asia landscapes far different from those of Maryland’s Eastern Shore, where he has lived his entire life.

“I’m excited to experience ecosystems that are completely different from what I’ve known,” he said. “Thailand offers such a wide range of biodiversity, and I’m especially interested in learning how humans and animals coexist. Programs that look at things like human-elephant interactions and finding solutions that benefit both are exactly what I want to explore.”

The opportunity also marks Cavaleri’s first time traveling outside the United States, an experience he hopes will broaden both his academic and personal perspectives.

“More than anything, I want to understand what it’s like to live and learn in another part of the world,” he said. “I think that kind of perspective is incredibly important, especially in environmental work, where solutions often require global thinking.”

Cavaleri plans to pursue other international opportunities after graduation, including applying for a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Taiwan. He believes his Gilman experience will be a critical step toward those goals.

“This experience will help me grow academically and personally,” he said. “It will prepare me for future opportunities like Fulbright and give me the confidence to work internationally.”

The Gilman Scholarship is a nationally competitive program that expands access to study abroad by supporting students who might otherwise be unable to participate.

SU junior Corixa Villanueva, a computer science software engineering major from Damascus, MD, also earned the Gilman, but has deferred the award to pursue other opportunities.

Current students who are Pell Grant recipients are eligible for the Gilman Scholarship. Applications are due in October and March each year. If interested, email Dr. Kristen Walton, at the Nationally Competitive Fellowships Office, or contact the Salisbury University Center for International Education.

Learn more about SU and opportunities to Make Tomorrow Yours at www.salisbury.edu.