Two years ago Nebraska Wesleyan University junior Eric Jackson traveled to Estonia with the men’s basketball team.
The experience piqued his interest in post-Soviet transition and he wanted to learn more. He spent part of the following summer in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Sderot, and Tiberias accompanying a pro-Israel lobbying group.
Now he will spend this summer in Georgia, located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe.
“I think Georgia has the potential to emulate the same amount of democratic success Estonia has achieved,” said Jackson. “I also think Central Asia is going to be an emerging force in the international relations field.”
The political science major from Lincoln will go to Georgia thanks to a Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. He is one of over 700 undergraduates from across the country selected to receive the prestigious award sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.
While in Georgia, Jackson will intern at the Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information.
“This will provide me valuable experience in the non-governmental organization field of political development,” said Jackson. “With the help of NWU, this opportunity directly helps me with my career path in NGO work specializing in democratization.”
Nebraska Wesleyan University students have won 33 Gilman Scholarships since the award was created in 2001. Jackson is the first NWU student to win a summer Gilman Scholarship.