28 UNC students awarded study-abroad scholarships

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has awarded more than $80,000 in privately funded, need- and merit-based scholarships to 28 undergraduates for participation in study abroad programs this semester.

Recipients represent majors including biology, journalism, economics, political science and German. They are studying in cities around the world, including Prague, Czech Republic; Jerusalem; Tokyo; and Havana.

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 1,400 Carolina undergraduates go abroad each year through college programs.

“Some students can study abroad without spending much more money than if they remained on campus,” said Bob Miles, Ph.D., associate dean for study abroad and international exchanges in the college. “However, many face significant financial challenges as they contemplate the advantages of participating in an academic program in a foreign country. It is at this point that the generosity and vision of our alumni in enabling more and more Carolina students to study abroad becomes especially welcome.”

The scholarships awarded for spring programs are supported by 12 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 2009 spring 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 Jonathan Waldmann, a sophomore biology major from Centennial, Colo., is participating in Butler University’s Argentine Universities program in Buenos Aires. Jonathan also received a Lineweaver Scholarship (see below).

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 earned 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:

Jennifer Mandel, a junior history major from Chesapeake, Va., enrolled as an exchange student at King’s College in London;
Rachel Sasser, a junior history and English major from LaGrange, studying at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Argentina in Buenos Aires;
Dena Simkus, a junior international studies major from Apex, attending Sophia University in Tokyo; and
Ariel Zirulnick, a junior international studies and journalism major from Miami, spending the semester at Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

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:

Anne Abell, a sophomore Spanish major from Sanford, attending Butler University’s Argentine Universities program in Buenos Aires;
Sarah Emmerth, a sophomore business major from Gastonia, studying at the Lorenzo de Medici Institute in Florence, Italy; and
William Swaim, a senior economics and communication studies major from High Point, enrolled at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Anthony and Hope Harrington Study Abroad Scholarship
UNC alumnus Anthony Harrington, former U.S. ambassador to Brazil, and his wife, Hope, both 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:

Casey Evans, a senior political science major from Kissimmee, Fla., participating in the UNC Semester in Havana program;
Alex Hardee, a junior economics major from Charlotte, also participating in the UNC Semester in Havana program; and
Caleb Stetson, a junior biomedical engineering major from Whispering Pines, studying in the UNC Uruguay Universities exchange program in Montevideo.

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:

Molly Betton, a junior Spanish and international studies major from Greensboro, participating in Butler University’s Chilean Universities program in Valparaiso, Chile;
Madison Hissom, a junior economics and German major from Wilmington, enrolled at the Eberhard Karls Universitaet in Tuebingen, Germany;
Rebekah Hughes, a junior exercise and sport science major from Charlotte, studying at the Lorenzo de Medici Institute in Florence, Italy; and
Samuel Robertson, a junior English major from Morganton, attending the UNC in Montpellier program in France.

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 fund in 2005. It provides scholarships for students with demonstrated financial need and academic merit to support participation in semester or year-long study abroad programs. Recipients are:

Gresham Fedora, a senior physics major from Chapel Hill, spending the semester in Beijing through the company CET Academic Programs; and
Milton Perla, a junior economics and mathematics major from Siler City, also studying in Beijing through CET Academic Programs.

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 support study abroad or international experiences for undergraduates from eastern North Carolina.

Recipient Elaine Hooper, a junior anthropology major from Salvo, is attending the University of Sydney in Australia.

Charles Garland Johnson Sr. Scholarships
Carolina alumni Mary Anne Johnson Dickson and Neal Johnson of Charlotte established 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:

Alison Amoroso, a sophomore journalism and international studies major from Raleigh, participating in Boston University’s internship program in Sydney, Australia;
Aimee Call, a junior political science and international studies major from North Wilkesboro, attending the Lorenzo de Medici Institute in Florence, Italy;
Erin Hanehan, a junior journalism and dramatic art major from Apex, participating in Boston University’s internship program in Dublin, Ireland;
Natalie Moore, a junior English major from Waxhaw, studying at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland;
Sara Thompson, a sophomore studio art major from Louisburg, enrolled at Studio Art Centers International in Florence, Italy; and
Caroline Wood, a sophomore Spanish and international studies major from Yadkinville, studying at the Universidad Veracruzana in Xalapa, Mexico.

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.

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 provides at least one scholarship per year.

Recipient Carla Salvo-Lewis, a junior Spanish and Latin American studies major from Carrboro, is participating in Butler University’s Chilean Universities program in Valparaiso, Chile.

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:

Natalie Ernst, a junior economics and political science major from Horse Shoe, attending the UNC semester in Prague program in the Czech Republic; and
Jessica Koonz, a junior economics and public policy major from High Falls, N.Y., participating in Boston University’s internship program in Geneva.

Laura Richards Study Abroad Scholarship
Laura Richards of London, a 1994 Carolina graduate, established this fund in 1999 to provide at least one scholarship annually for an international studies major.

Recipient Annika Lescott, a junior international studies and Spanish major from Charlotte, is spending the semester in Spain with the IES Madrid program (Institute for the International Education of Students).

Study abroad contact: Bob Miles, (919) 962-7002, bob.miles@unc.edu
News Services contact: L.J. Toler, (919) 962-8589