The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill awarded more than $74,000 in privately funded, need- and merit-based scholarships to 29 undergraduates for study abroad this semester.
Recipients represent majors including environmental science, German, history, business administration and Latin American studies. They are studying in cities around the world, including Havana; Barcelona, Spain; Wollongong, Australia; Cochabamba, Bolivia; and Prague, Czech Republic. The UNC Study Abroad Office in the College of Arts and Sciences offers more than 320 study abroad programs in more than 70 countries. Approximately 1,200 Carolina undergraduates go abroad each year through college programs.
“We are excited to offer new scholarship opportunities this semester, made possible by the generosity of Carolina alumni,” said Bob Miles, associate dean for study abroad and international exchanges in the college. “Increasing the amount of financial assistance available to our students is even more important now, given the weakness of the U.S. dollar, increases in the cost of airfare and other factors that are raising the cost of studying abroad.”
The scholarships awarded for spring programs are supported by 12 endowment funds established by private donors. They also are part of the more than $19 million raised for study abroad programs and scholarships during the Carolina First Campaign, which ended Dec. 31.
UNC students interested in applying for study abroad programs or receiving more information about scholarships should contact the study abroad office at (919) 962-7002 or visit http://global.unc.edu/studyabroad.
The scholarships, donors who established them and recipients of 2008 spring semester study abroad programs are listed below, with hometowns in bold.
Bejarano-Benning Study Abroad Scholarship for Latin America
Leslie Benning of New York City, a 1979 Carolina graduate, and her husband, Dr. Rafael Bejarano, established this scholarship in 2003. The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation matched their gift. The fund provides at least one scholarship annually for study in Latin America. Recipients are:
- Sara Kelleher, a junior journalism major from Greensboro, participating in the UNC Semester in Havana program in Cuba; and
- Philip Womble, a sophomore environmental science and public policy major from Cary, studying at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador.
Bejarano-Benning Study Abroad Scholarship for Spain/Iberian Peninsula
Leslie Benning of New York City, a 1979 Carolina graduate, and her husband, Dr. Rafael Bejarano, established this scholarship in 2003. The fund provides at least one scholarship annually for semester or year-long programs in Spain or Portugal.
Recipient Emily Bisker, a junior biology major from Bel Air, Md., is spending the semester in Barcelona, Spain, in the IES Barcelona program (Institute for the International Education of Students).
Michael L. and Matthew L. Boyatt Award
Michael Boyatt, a 1956 Carolina graduate from Beech Mountain, established this fund in 1996 with his son, Matthew, of Durham, who received undergraduate and law degrees from Carolina in 1997 and 2002, respectively. The fund provides merit-based study abroad awards for undergraduates majoring in international studies or history. Recipients are:
- Audrey Gauss, a junior international studies and German major from Winston-Salem, studying at the Freie Universitaet Berlin in Germany;
- Amanda Morgan, a junior international studies and history major from Mooresville, enrolled at the University of Sussex in Brighton, England;
- Stephen Cannizaro, a junior history and French major from Oakton, Va., participating in the UNC in Montpellier program in France;
- Emily May, a junior history and Spanish major from Greensboro, participating in the UNC Semester in Havana program in Cuba;
- Michael Snow, a sophomore history and political science major from Nashville, Tenn., studying in Spain in the IES: Madrid program (Institute for the International Education of Students); and
- Jessie Schmitz, a history and Latin American studies major from Durham, attending the Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador.
Gravely Family Study Abroad Scholarship
This new scholarship was established in 2006 by Lee Stevens Gravely of Rocky Mount and her four children, all UNC alumni: Frances Gravely and Susan Gravely of Chapel Hill, Steve Gravely of Pittsboro and Page Gravely of Middleburg, Va. The award honors Lee Gravely’s late husband, father to the other donors, Lloyd Lee Gravely. He studied at UNC until he enlisted in 1941 to serve in World War II. He was president of a family-owned export-import company, China American Tobacco Company. The Gravely fund provides annual study abroad scholarships, with preference for students from North Carolina. The first recipients are:
- Chad Brinton, a sophomore business administration major from Cedar Point, an exchange student at the University of Sydney in Australia ;
- James Hudson, a sophomore anthropology major from Climax, an exchange student at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England;
- Jessica Nichols, a junior environmental studies and anthropology major from Matthews, attending the Universidad Nacional de Cuyo in Mendoza, Argentina; and
- Janice Smith, a junior German major from Charlotte, an exchange student at the University of Freiburg in Germany.
Anthony and Hope Harrington Study Abroad Scholarship
UNC alumnus Anthony Harrington, former U.S. ambassador to Brazil, and his wife, Hope, of Easton, Md., created the fund supporting this award with a gift in 2004. The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation matched their gift. The Harringtons established the scholarship to honor former Chilean President Ricardo Lagos, who taught at UNC in 1974 and 1975. Lagos received an honorary degree from UNC in 2001. The fund awards scholarships annually for study abroad in Latin America. Recipients are:
- Katherine Ibarra, a junior Latin American studies and international studies major from Springfield, Va., participating in the UNC Semester in Havana program in Cuba; and
- Hai-Tan Le, a sophomore from Charlotte, an exchange student at Monterrey Tech in Mexico.
Leonard G. and Rozelia S. Herring Study Abroad Award Fund
Leonard Herring, a 1948 Carolina graduate, and his wife, Rozelia, of North Wilkesboro, established this scholarship in 2005. The fund provides scholarships for students with demonstrated financial need and academic merit to support participation in semester or year-long study abroad programs. Recipients are:
- Melanie Simpson, a junior dramatic art major from Carthage, an exchange student at the University of Sheffield in England; and
- Annie Moran, a sophomore from High Point, participating in the Organization for Tropical Studies: Tropical Biology program in Costa Rica.
Joe Henry Jenkins and Jenny C. Jenkins Study Abroad and International Experience Fund
This fund was established in 2004 to honor members of the Jenkins family, longtime residents of Dare County and eastern North Carolina. Awards from the fund will support study abroad or international experiences for undergraduates from eastern North Carolina.
Recipient Gwendolyn Saunders, a sophomore studio art major from Kill Devil Hills, is attending the Lorenzo de Medici Institute in Florence, Italy.
Charles Garland Johnson Sr. Scholarships
Carolina alumni Mary Anne Johnson Dickson and Neal Johnson of Charlotte established the fund supporting these awards in 2002 to honor their late father, a banker and community leader in Elkin. The fund offers need-based and merit-based study abroad scholarships to undergraduates from North Carolina, with preference for students from Surry, Wilkes and Yadkin counties. Recipients are:
- Aimee Call, a sophomore international studies major from North Wilkesboro, enrolled in the Lorenzo de Medici in Florence, Italy;
- Julian Hayes, a sophomore from Raleigh, who is participating in the IES Salamanca program (for the International Education of Students) in Spain;
- Annie Hoffman, a junior psychology and studio art major from Mount Holly, studying at Studio Art Centers International in Florence, Italy;
- Endia Beal, a senior art history and studio art major from Winston-Salem, also studying at Studio Art Centers International in Florence, Italy;
- Chris Ogburn, a junior music major from Tobaccoville, participating in the IES Vienna program in Austria (Institute for the International Education of Students); and
- Amanda Morgan, a junior international studies and history major from Mooresville, enrolled at the University of Sussex in Brighton, England.
Grey Lineweaver Study Abroad Scholarship
Grey Lineweaver, a 1962 Carolina graduate from Greensboro, established this scholarship in 2005 with matching funds from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The fund provides at least one scholarship per year for study in Latin America. Recipients are:
- Emily Batt, a sophomore dramatic art and Latin American studies major from Rockville, Md., participating in the COPA (Cooperating Programs in the Americas): Argentine Universities program in Buenos Aires; and
- Cari Cuffney, a junior political science and anthropology major from Raleigh, studying in Cochabamba, Bolivia, with the School for International Training’s culture and development program.
Charles A. McLendon Sr. Study Abroad Scholarship
Charles A. McLendon Jr. of New York City, a 1981 Carolina graduate, created the fund supporting this scholarship in 2004 to honor his father, of Greensboro, a retired Burlington Industries executive who traveled extensively overseas. The fund will provide at least one scholarship per year.
Recipient Zachary Brogadir, a junior economics and mathematical decision sciences major from Buffalo Grove, Ill., is part of the UNC Semester in Prague program in the Czech Republic.
Elizabeth and Frank Queally Study Abroad Scholarship
Elizabeth Queally, a 1984 graduate, and her husband, Frank, of Darien, Conn., established this scholarship in 2005. The fund provides at least four scholarships annually for students with demonstrated financial need, with preference for students participating in semester or year-long programs. The first recipients are:
- Amanda Saunders, a sophomore environmental studies major from Tallahassee, Fla., studying at the Center for Rainforest Studies, a School for Field Studies program in Cairns, Australia; and
- Janell Warner, a sophomore exercise and sport science major from Apex, attending the University of Wollongong in Australia.
Laura Richards Study Abroad Scholarship
Laura Richards, a 1994 Carolina graduate and resident of London, established this fund in 1999 to provide at least one scholarship annually for an international studies major.
Recipient Alexandra Ogden, a junior Spanish and international studies major from Cary, is participating in the School for International Training’s Culture and Development program in Quito, Ecuador.
Study abroad contact: Dr. Robert Miles, (919) 962-7002, bob.miles@unc.edu
News Services contact: L.J. Toler, (919) 962-8589