The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has awarded more than $99,000 in privately funded, need- and merit-based scholarships to 40 undergraduates for participation in summer and fall study abroad programs.
Recipients represent majors including exercise and sport science, dramatic art, anthropology, business administration and Slavic languages. They are studying in cities around the world, including Beijing, China; Cape Town, South Africa; Dublin, Ireland; Montevideo, Uruguay; and Amman, Jordan. 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 be able to award so many scholarships, especially given the weakness of the U.S. dollar, increases in the cost of airfares and other factors that are raising the cost of studying abroad,” said Bob Miles, associate dean for study abroad and international exchanges in the College. “The generosity of our alumni is enabling more and more Carolina students to participate in an academic program abroad.”
The scholarships awarded for summer and fall programs are supported by 13 endowment funds established by private donors. They are part of the more than $19 million raised for study abroad programs and scholarships during the Carolina First Campaign, which ended Dec. 31, 2007.
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 summer and fall 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.
Recipient Andrew Heiser, a senior Spanish major from Chapel Hill, is participating in the Medical Spanish program at the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara in Mexico this summer.
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.
Recipient Victoria Ma, a sophomore business administration and international studies major from Raleigh, is enrolled as an exchange student for the fall semester at the University of Sussex in Brighton, England.
Gravely Family Study Abroad Scholarship
This 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 fund provides annual study abroad scholarships, with preference for students from North Carolina. Recipients are:
- Andrew Pippin, a junior business administration and French major from Charlotte, attending the IES: Arles summer program (International Education of Students) in France;
- Clayton Thomas, a sophomore from Cary, part of the summer Burch Field Research Seminar in Istanbul, Turkey; and
- Amanda Newport, a sophomore linguistics major from Lillington, enrolled in the Freie Universitaet Berlin International Summer University 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:
- Adelia Odom, a junior political science major from Charlotte, enrolled in a summer program at the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara in Mexico that is sponsored by the UNC APPLES (Assisting People in Planning Learning Experiences in Service) program and the International Partnership for Service Learning;
- Jessica Hanson, a junior Latin American studies and chemistry major from Raeford, enrolled in the summer Medical Spanish program at the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara in Mexico;
- Lashé James, a senior psychology and exercise and sport science major from Mebane, participating in the new UNC Exercise Physiology-Sports Nutrition summer program in Montevideo, Uruguay; and
- Jaclyn Arnson, a junior education major from Alpharetta, Ga., studying in the COPA: Buenos Aires summer program in Argentina. COPA-Cooperating Programs in the Americas-is a consortium of four universities, including Carolina, with programs in Argentina and Chile.
Harris Teeter Study Abroad Scholarship Program
This scholarship was established in 2004 by gifts from Harris Teeter and the Dickson Foundation Inc. Harris Teeter, the Charlotte-based supermarket chain, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Ruddick Corp., whose former chairman is Alan Dickson of Charlotte, a Dickson Foundation trustee. The fund provides annual scholarships for students from North Carolina, with preference for Harris Teeter associates or their children. Recipients are:
- Isabella Archer, a sophomore French and international studies major from Chapel Hill, participating in the UNC Amman Jordan Women Studies Summer program;
- Jennifer Griffin, a junior anthropology and linguistics major from Raleigh, attending the South American Archaeology Field School this summer in Moche Valley, Peru;
- Erin Murphy, a sophomore international studies major from Elizabeth City, spending the summer in Russia with the UNC in Moscow program;
- John Tobben; a sophomore psychology major from Charlotte, studying in the UNC in Sevilla summer program in Spain; and
- Cory Andrews, a junior Spanish and political science major from Charlotte, enrolled in the School for International Training’s Economic Development and Globalization program in Santiago, Chile for the fall semester.
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:
Elena Araujo Borisoff, a senior international studies major from Greenville, enrolled for the fall semester at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador;
Tessa Bialek, a senior political science major from East Lansing, Mich., studying for the fall semester in the School for International Training’s Social Movement and Human Rights program in Buenos Aires, Argentina;
Sydney DuPre, a junior English major from Raleigh, spending the fall semester in South Africa as part of the Honors Semester in Cape Town program; and
Mary Meadowcroft, a junior linguistics major from Hope Mills, attending the University of Edinburgh in Scotland for the fall semester.
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 Erin Murphy, a sophomore international studies major from Elizabeth City, will spend the summer in Russia with the UNC in Moscow program.
Charles Garland Johnson Sr. Scholarships
Carolina alumni Mary Anne Johnson Dickson and Neal Johnson of Charlotteestablished the fund supporting these awards in 2002. The awards 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:
- Catherine Mitchell, a junior political science and exercise and sport science major from Pinnacle, enrolled for the fall in the UNC Exchange Program in New South Wales in Sydney, Australia;
- Jacob Thomas, a junior biology and Spanish major from Mount Airy, participating in the medical Spanish summer program at the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara in Mexico;
- Marco Torelli, a junior chemistry major from Morrisville, an exchange student for the 2008-2009 academic year at the University of Pavia in Italy with TASSEP (TransAtlantic Science Student Exchange Program);
- Jonathan Williams, a senior English and comparative literature major from Charlotte, studying this fall in France in the N.C. Semester in Paris, organized by a consortium of universities in the state;
- Nathan Powell, a junior history and psychology major from Raleigh, participating in a Boston University Internship Summer Program in Madrid, Spain;
- Laura Ciompi, a junior psychology and chemistry major from Durham, participating in a Boston University Internship Summer Program in London;
- Tyler Phillips, a sophomore international studies major from Cary, participating in a Boston University Internship Summer Program in Dublin, Ireland;
- Jill Dwiggins, a junior English and comparative literature major from Apex, also participating in a Boston University Internship Summer Program in Dublin, Ireland;
- Mae Dunne, a senior Russian language and literature major from Durham, studying this fall in St. Petersburg, Russia, with the Council on International Educational Exchange’s Russian Language program;
- Miquela Ingalls, a sophomore from Wake Forest, attending the School for Field Studies’ summer program at the Center for Wildlife Management Studies in Nairobi National Park and the Kilimanjaro Bush in Kenya;
- Priya Desai, a junior international studies and chemistry major from High Point, enrolled in the UNC Asian Studies Summer in Beijing program; and
- Phebe DeHaan, a junior Asian studies major from Chapel Hill, spending the fall in Xiamen, China, with the UNC Semester in China program.
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 resulting fund provides at least one scholarship per year for study in Latin America.
Recipient Ana Gattegno, a senior international studies major from Longwood, Fla., is participating in the COPA: Buenos Aires summer program in Argentina. COPA – Cooperating Programs in the Americas – is a consortium of four universities, including Carolina, with programs in Argentina and Chile.
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. Recipients are:
- Liza Rathbun, a junior chemistry major from Wilmington, participating in the medical Spanish program at the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara in Mexico this summer; and
- Sammi Hargitt, a junior Spanish and linguistics major from Indianapolis, spending the summer in Madrid, Spain, with a Boston University internship program.
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. Recipients are:
- Rayna McClendon, a senior communication studies major from Atlanta, Ga., spending the summer in Dublin, Ireland, with a Boston University internship program;
- Danielle Fernandez, a senior chemistry major from Cary, enrolled in the IES: Chile Health Studies program (International Education of Students) this summer in Santiago;
- Dayna Adelman, a junior dramatic art and journalism major from Plainview, N.Y., spending the fall semester in London through a Boston University internship program;
- Colleen Goffe, a junior journalism major from Bowie, Md., participating in a fall semester Boston University internship program in London; and
- Paula Vasquez, a junior international studies and chemistry major from Statesville, studying in the UNC Honors program in Cape Town, South Africa, for the fall semester.
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 Leigh Jones, a junior international studies major from Raleigh, will spend the fall semester in South Africa with the UNC Honors Semester in Cape Town program.
Horace J. Shumate Memorial Scholarship
Carol Shumate of Chapel Hill established the fund supporting this award in 2001 in honor of her late father, who worked in the foreign operations division of Loffland Brothers Drilling Co. for 24 years. A contract negotiator, Shumate traveled to remote locations around the world. The fund provides at least one scholarship annually for study abroad or participation in foreign exchange programs. In celebration of Horace Shumate’s career, the fund targets students who wish to pursue new academic or personal interests through international experiences.
Recipient Daniel Friedman, a junior mathematics and German major from Charlotte, will study at the Freie Universitaet Berlin International Summer University in Germany.
Study abroad contact: Robert Miles, Ph.D., (919) 962-7002, bob.miles@unc.edu
News Services contact: L.J. Toler, (919) 962-8589