Marshall's Zechariah Meunier Awarded Gilman Scholarship for Study Abroad in Madagascar

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Lawrence University student Zechariah Meunier of Marshall has been awarded a scholarship to study in Madagascar this fall.

APPLETON, WIS. (07/09/2013)(readMedia)-- Zechariah Meunier, son of Brian and Mary Meunier, Marshall, has been awarded a prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. He is a 2011 graduate of Marshall High School.

A junior at Lawrence University, Meunier will spend 11 weeks this fall in Madagascar on a study-abroad program based at Centre ValBio, a research station in Ranomafana National Park.

In addition to classes, Meunier will complete an independent research project as part of his program, which includes a 10-day trip across the island. With interests in ecology, botany and entomology, he is focusing on a project involving plant-insect interactions.

"The Madagascar program is an ideal opportunity to further my interdisciplinary education and the Gilman Scholarship helps make this experience affordable," said Meunier, a biology and environmental studies major at Lawrence. "By studying the country's tremendous biodiversity and participating in conservation initiatives, I will advance my life's goals of researching and preserving the natural world."

Gilman Scholars receive up to $5,000 to apply towards their study abroad program costs. The scholarship program provides opportunities to gain a better understanding of other cultures, countries, languages and economies, making recipients better prepared to assume leadership roles within government and the private sector.

The program, administered by the Institute of International Education, is named in honor of Benjamin Gilman, who represented New York in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1973-2003.

Gilman was a strong advocate of study abroad programs, believing they "provide students with the opportunity to return home with a deeper understanding of their place in the world, encouraging them to be a contributor, rather than a spectator, in the international community."

About Lawrence University

Founded in 1847, Lawrence University uniquely integrates a college of liberal arts and sciences with a nationally recognized conservatory of music, both devoted exclusively to undergraduate education. It was selected for inclusion in the Fiske Guide to Colleges 2014 and the book "Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About College." Individualized learning, the development of multiple interests and community engagement are central to the Lawrence experience. Lawrence draws its 1,500 students from nearly every state and more than 50 countries.