The City University of New York has announced the selection of 29 students, including three South Asians, Niharika Ojha, Manasvini Chitharanjan, and Jafnoon Khatun, for the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. In addition, eight students were named to the Kaplan Educational Foundation’s Kaplan Leadership Program.

Both programs aim to expand educational opportunities for high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds at CUNY, including access to study abroad experiences.

“Programs like the Gilman Scholarship and Kaplan Leadership Program provide invaluable opportunities for our students to make the most of their higher education experience,” said CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez in a statement. “We congratulate the outstanding CUNY scholars who have been selected for these competitive programs. We are proud that they will continue to represent our University as they pursue their ambitions and goals.”

According to the statement, the Gilman Scholarship, offered by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, supports study abroad opportunities for students with limited financial means. The Kaplan Leadership Scholars program supports “high-performing, low-income” community college students from the New York City metropolitan area in completing their associate degree, transferring to a four-year institution, and earning a bachelor’s degree.

The Gilman Scholarship recipients include 10 students from Borough of Manhattan Community College, six each from The City College of New York and Hunter College, three from Baruch College, two from Lehman College, and one each from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and Queens College. Five of the recipients are also enrolled at Macaulay Honors College.

The newly selected Kaplan Leadership Scholars include three students each from Borough of Manhattan Community College and LaGuardia Community College, along with one student each from Hostos Community College and Queensborough Community College.

Gilman Scholars

Each year, the Gilman Scholarship awards up to $5,000 to students who are traditionally underrepresented in education abroad, with the goal of helping them develop professional skills, language proficiency, and a broader global perspective. According to the Institute of International Education, which administers the program, associate degree students accounted for just 1.6 percent of students who studied abroad during the 2023–24 academic year. Since 2022, CUNY students have collectively earned 283 Gilman Scholarships.

Below is the list of CUNY’s Spring 2026 Gilman Scholarship recipients and their study abroad destinations:

Baruch College: Manasvini Chitharanjan (Denmark); Jainab Jahra (France), and Felix Ramos (Spain)

Borough of Manhattan Community College: Gloria Asante (South Africa); Ricardo Distefano (South Africa); Cody Dunkley (Italy); Abulah Jawara (Ghana); Emily Renee Marquez (Netherlands); John Muccino (Italy); Sania Christiana Pinnock (South Korea); Jasmin Rodriguez (Japan); Sam Salh (Japan); and Chaw Hsu Thinn (Italy). 

City College of New York: Heaven Castillo Tejeda (Costa Rica); Damante Griffith (Japan); Zuha Khan, Macaulay Honors College student (Jordan); Susan Lin, Macaulay Honors College student (Morocco); Rachel Olatunji (France); and Mariela Roa (Costa Rica). 

Hunter College: Solange Arias (United Kingdom); Mayar Abdelalim (Morocco); Jafnoon Khatun, Macaulay Honors College student (Australia); Becky Li (Belize); Niharika Ojha (Morocco); Tasnim Sumaita, and Macaulay Honors College student (Ecuador)

John Jay College of Criminal Justice: Angelina Hamza (Japan)

Lehman College: Amna Ishaq, Macaulay Honors College student (Morocco), and Prescila Otoo (Spain)

Queens College: Laiba Mahmood (Ecuador)

Kaplan Leadership Scholars

The statement noted that the Kaplan Educational Foundation offers the Kaplan Leadership Program to help high-potential community college students from the New York City area with financial need complete their associate degree, successfully transfer, and earn a bachelor’s degree.

Previous CUNY scholars include Nolvia Delgado, a 2009 Borough of Manhattan Community College graduate who now serves as the foundation’s executive director and was recently recognized among the University’s 50 Under 50 Alumni for her leadership.

Below is the list of CUNY’s 2025–26 Kaplan Leadership Scholars:

Borough of Manhattan Community College: Nura Baalla; Devin Dong; and Tashem (Ty) Porter

Hostos Community College: NaiAsia McGregor

LaGuardia Community College: Nataly Briones; Mame Fall; and Kenny Lin

Queensborough Community College: Pamela De Leon Berroa

Related posts:

CUNY Launches “CUNY Beyond” – Ambitious Five-Year Plan to Integrate Career Readiness into Every Degree by 2030 CUNY Announces 2025 “50 Under 50” Alumni Honorees Celebrating Alumni Shaping New York and Beyond ICCR Opens Scholarship Applications for 2025-26 Academic Year in Indian Universities Full US College Scholarships Possible for Dependent Visa Students