MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — WVU student Chelsea Elliott is one of the recipients of the Gilman Scholarship to study abroad.

The eight students, along with six others selected earlier this year, earned the scholarship funded by the U.S. Department of State in a national competition.

Elliott, a senior landscape architecture major from Morgantown, said she traveled to Western Europe to examine everything from landscaping to systems used to recycle rainwater from buildings. One of the major differences in residential areas is the minimalist approach Europeans have to their lawns.

“They have natural pollinator gardens in the front part of their lawns instead of grass like we do here in the United States,” Elliott said.

Many European ideas require a different way of thinking while others really aren’t practical. Elliott said the concepts of a typical European lawn could be used right here in America, or West Virginia.

“The different design elements used in European cities can definitely be brought back here to the United States,” Elliott said.

The areas that she toured were much more compact than the landscape areas in the United States. Additionally, she said the areas are designed more with community purposes and interaction in mind.

“They’re more designed with bringing the community together in mind and using those spaces effectively,” Elliott said. “I think that’s one of the biggest differences between the United States and European countries.”

She said the opportunity to travel abroad for study is available to all students through the ASPIRE Office. Since 2006, the ASPIRE Office has helped students apply for national scholarships and fellowships and also helps students apply for graduate or professional schools.

“That’s really important for other students to understand,” Elliott said. “If they want to travel internationally, there are resources such as the Aspire office that help you make the connections to be able to do that.”

Elliott will graduate soon and plans to stay close to home in West Virginia to build her career and share her talents.

“I have nine months of school left at West Virginia University,” Elliott said. “I want to stay here in the Mountain State and design community parks and trails.”

Other recipients in this class are:

Shawna Hart, a Bridgeport native enrolled in the Regents Bachelor of Arts program, for travel to the United Kingdom,

· Kevin Harter, a freshman geography major from Ballwin, Missouri, for travel to New Zealand,

· Chyanne Reid, a senior biochemistry student from Martinsburg, for travel to Ireland,

· Christopher Smith, a junior biomedical engineering major from Point Pleasant, for travel to Panama in 2025 as part of the WVU Global Medical and Dental Brigades,

· Mary Margaret “Maggie” Stakem, a junior sports and adventure media major from Wheeling, for travel to Spain,

· Sabrina Thorn, a sophomore health services management and leadership major from McMechen, for travel as part of a future WVU-sponsored trip,

· Braeden Thornton, a freshman pre-nursing major from North East, Pennsylvania, for travel to Cyprus.