SPRINGFIELD, Mo., May 12, 2026 – Drury University undergraduates Avery Chappell (Cassville, Missouri) and Mackenzie Richardson (Ozark, Missouri) have been selected as finalists for the prestigious Gilman Scholarship for Study Abroad. Chappell and Richardson are Drury’s 11th and 12th Gilman recipients since 2022.
Chappell and Richardson will receive scholarships to facilitate their proposals. Administered by the U.S. Department of State, the Gilman Program has awarded more than 50,000 undergraduate scholarships since the program’s inception in 2001.
“We are so pleased that Gilman continues to be impressed by the caliber of Drury applicants,” Dr. Shelley Wolbrink, Drury professor of history and fellow for national scholarships, said. “Both Avery and Mackenzie wrote stellar essays advocating for their global citizenship. Their travel experiences will enhance intercultural understanding both overseas and when they are back on campus.”
Avery Chappell (Marketing and Management, Business Economics), a sophomore and a member of the women’s golf team, will travel to Greece this summer thanks to a $2,500 scholarship from Gilman. In Greece, Avery will study the history of the Mediterranean and Ancient Greek culture. She will use this opportunity for study, to learn how to engage with different cultures and how to make more well-rounded and inclusive business decisions after she graduates and enters the workforce.
Mackenzie Richardson (English/Writing, Medieval Studies, International Immersion), a senior who will graduate in December, is headed to Rome, Italy, on a $3,000 scholarship for a one-month program. While in Rome, Mackenzie will study Catholicism, Judaism and Islam in an effort to inform her future career and gain expertise. As a medieval scholar, Mackenzie will also learn more about Rome’s historical artifacts, relics and monuments. Additionally, Mackenzie will enhance her International Immersion certificate through an independent research project.
About the Gilman Scholarship Program
The Gilman Scholarship is granted to U.S. undergraduate students with financial need who demonstrate academic preparedness to participate in a designated program and design service project. Supported by the U.S. Congress, the Gilman Scholarship is an initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and is aided in its implementation by the Institute of International Education. For more information about the Gilman Scholarship program, visit gilmanscholarship.org.
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Media Contact: Cris Belvin, Director of University Communications & Media Relations | (417) 873-7392 | gbelvin@drury.edu