Mari’Neisha Hardrick, a senior mass communications major at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, was awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship by the U.S. Department of State.
The scholarship allows undergraduates with financial need to study abroad. More than 70% of the selected students are from rural areas and small towns across the U.S., according to the DOS website.
“I’m proud to see Mari’Neisha Hardrick continuing UAPB’s strong tradition of participation in the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program,” said newly appointed UAPB Chancellor Anthony Graham. “I congratulate her on this significant achievement.”
Thanks to the scholarship, Hardrick was able to participate in UAPB’s inaugural summer program in Costa Rica, according to Pamela Moore, Ph.D., associate dean for global engagement at UAPB.
To Hardrick, receiving the scholarship represents more than financial assistance — it is a powerful affirmation of her potential and dreams.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“As someone from a single-parent, low-income household in Memphis, Tenn., receiving the Gilman Award is deeply meaningful,” Hardrick said. “The opportunity to participate in the Costa Rica program allows me to study abroad for the first time and gain the cultural and linguistic immersion I need to grow both personally and academically.”
With her passion to pursue vocational pathways in mass communication and Spanish, Hardrick aspires to use life skills, knowledge and education to bridge cultures and amplify voices that are often unheard. The Gilman Scholarship brought her one step closer to making a global impact by empowering communities through communication and connection.
Hardrick’s Spanish language learning adventure began in her eighth grade year at Bellevue Middle School in Memphis when she took a language course to earn high school credits.
She had one of the best Spanish teachers to ever teach, she said. That teacher was one of the reasons Hardrick was inspired to keep going with her interest in Spanish.
“Not only was she a young educator, but she was also African American, which is something I didn’t see often growing up,” Hardrick said.
High school presented Hardrick with some challenges. First off, she had to join the Spanish 2 class as the only freshman in a class full of seniors.
“Although I had loved Spanish, in high school the instruction was very watered down and nobody seemed to care about it except for me,” she said. “To make matters worse, I was informed by my adviser that I would have to take another foreign language course due to the credits from middle school not satisfying the graduation requirements. This meant I had to go to summer school to eventually graduate on time.”
The prospect of attending summer school despite having good grades was initially frustrating. However, the experience turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
“Taking Spanish in summer school actually helped me get my spark back,” Hardrick said. “Yet again I was being taught by a young African American man. He was so passionate as he taught us about the language, history and culture. We watched movies and even made empanadas — it was an experience I’ll never forget. At that point I knew that I wanted to keep progressing with the language. I knew I wanted people to see me as an example of all the places you can go regardless of where you’re from.”
Hardrick’s passion for Spanish was met with another small roadblock in college at UAPB. During her junior year, when she found out about the new minor program in Spanish being offered, she leaped at the chance to sign up. However, completing the program would mean pushing back her graduation date by another semester — from spring to fall of 2025.
“I cried very hard making that difficult decision because oftentimes when you have your mind set on something, it feels like a disappointment when it doesn’t follow through. But in the end, I ‘gave it to God.’ Now, thanks to this decision, I am about to study abroad with little to no personal expenses. In December, I will be graduating with a bachelor’s degree in mass communication and a minor in Spanish. In the end, I know that my sacrifice will be worth it,” she said.
Hardrick aims to introduce her passion for language to others who come from challenging backgrounds.
“As a recipient of the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship, I have the duty of completing a follow-up service project that will aim to inspire people to study abroad, learn a new language and immerse themselves in cultures beyond their own,” she said. “I aspire to introduce an initiative to create a team of likeminded individuals who have a passion for helping others advance in their academic excellence.”
According to the chancellor, the impact of the Gilman Scholarship reaches far beyond the individual recipient.
“Through the required follow-on service project, Gilman Scholars help promote the value of global experiences to their peers and to students in local schools and community organizations. These efforts help others see how study abroad enhances academic development and prepares students to compete and lead in an increasingly global society. Thanks to the dedication of our Office of International Programs and Studies, nearly 10 UAPB students have earned this prestigious award, and we are committed to growing that number,” Graham said.
Moore said she was proud of Hardrick’s achievement and looked forward to receiving her feedback from the recent study-abroad program in Costa Rica.
“Not only has she been learning the language for many years, but she is also a student in UAPB’s new Spanish-language minor program,” Moore said. “The Gilman scholarship is helping this accomplished student to realize her dreams of becoming fluent in the language. The Office of International Programs and Studies exists to assist students like Mari’Neisha achieve their personal and career goals by opening doors to global opportunity.”
John Peterson, instructor of Spanish at UAPB, said Hardrick was on track to be the first student to complete UAPB’s Spanish minor program.
“When Mari’Neisha showed me the Gilman scholarship award letter, I was so happy for her,” he said. “For years she had wanted to minor in Spanish and even willingly delayed graduation to do so. Thus, her consistency, commitment and determination demonstrate her worthiness for the scholarship.”
Before the trip to Costa Rica, Peterson said the study abroad would have a life-changing impact on not only Hardrick’s career, but also her life.
UAPB’S SPANISH MINOR PROGRAM
Peterson said Hardrick sets an excellent example for other UAPB students interested in learning Spanish and studying abroad.
“What I’d like other students to know at our university is you can be like Mari’Neisha — other students in the Spanish minor program will almost certainly win a Gilman scholarship or something similar. Since price can be an issue for some students when it comes to studying abroad, knowing that this and other scholarships are available will really help them achieve this goal and reap amazing benefits for their careers and lives.”
Peterson encourages students to consider enrolling in the new Spanish minor program for the experience and chance to find lucrative career opportunities after graduation.
“A minor in Spanish will earn graduates more money in their careers,” he said. “We all know that the entire point of a college education is to gain access to a field that’s otherwise unavailable. Having fluency in Spanish not only does that, but also greatly expands possibilities for jobs and higher pay.”
Peterson said Hardrick and her classmates are pioneers not only because of their enrollment in the minor program, but also because of their participation in UAPB’s study-abroad programs.
“They will light the path and share the experiences with other interested students, demonstrating that their investment in these vital programs will pay off in the future,” he said. “Their experiences will translate into even greater successes for our students in the future.”
Peterson said he is grateful to Moore for her unwavering support of the Spanish minor program and study-abroad program in Costa Rica.
“The education of our students is always at the forefront of all of our attention, but Dr. Moore knows very well that there’s a unique kind of education that occurs in study abroad,” he said. “It is a kind of education that we cannot re-create in a classroom, that goes beyond percentages and assignments, that creates a maturity and understanding that can only be gained through experience. I praise her for her care and support to make such an educational experience for our students a reality.”
Will Hehemann is an Extension Specialist for Communications with the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff School of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences.
