CAPD Student Receives Gilman International Scholarship

Reprinted Courtesy of K-State Media Relations and Marketing

Two Kansas State University students were awarded Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships valued at as much as $5,000 to support their study abroad this spring.

One was David Eichman, fourth-year student in interior architecture and product design, from Tyler, TX.

Eichman is studying in Japan through a self-designed program. Working with Kevin Spears, K-State international program adviser, Eichman is piloting a program he hopes will spark a permanent Japanese exchange program with K-State.

Eichman also created an independent architectural and cultural tour of Japan to develop his language skills and experience the country and culture. He is studying architecture, product design, Japanese language and other courses at Japan’s Chiba University.

Eichman is involved in Golden Key and Pinnacle honor societies. He has served as president of the interior architecture and product design technology group and as multicultural chair at Putnam Hall. He also volunteers with physically-challenged high school students and with an advocacy group for mentally-challenged adults in Tyler, TX. He served an internship with an architect in Tyler during summer 2005.

He is the son of Larry and Mary Anne Eichman, also of Tyler, and a graduate of Robert Service High School in Anchorage, AK.

The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program offers a competition for awards for as much as $5,000 for undergraduate study abroad and was established by the International Academic Opportunity Act of 2000. Sponsored by the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, this congressionally funded program is administered by the Institute of International Education through its Southern Regional Center in Houston.