BOONE, N.C. — The Office of Nationally Competitive Scholarships (NCS), a division of University College at Appalachian State University, announces four Appalachian seniors have been awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to study abroad during the 2019–20 academic year.

Scholarship recipients Raine Lo, from the College of Arts and Sciences, Javon Nathaniel, a student in the Walker College of Business, and Kevin Garcia Bautista and Sara Sallam, students in the College of Fine and Applied Arts, are among 912 undergraduate students from 345 colleges to receive the prestigious Gilman Scholarship.

The Gilman International Scholarship Program — funded by the U.S. Department of State in honor of the late Benjamin A. Gilman, a former U.S. Rep. from New York — increases the number of students who study or intern abroad by providing financial support to undergraduates who could not otherwise afford to travel internationally. The scholarship makes it possible for recipients to experience international cultures and to learn languages of their choice.

Each Gilman Scholar receives up to $5,000 in funding to study or intern abroad. Applicants who intend to study a critical need language while abroad can apply for a supplemental Gilman Critical Need Language Award of up to $3,000, for a combined scholarship total of up to $8,000.

Raine Lo

College of Arts and Sciences

Lo, a senior languages, literatures and cultures major with a concentration in East Asian languages and cultures, has the distinction of receiving the Gilman Scholarship and the Critical Need Language Award and will study Japanese over the course of the 2019–20 academic year at Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, Japan.

“The Gilman Scholarship is a great and helpful scholarship worth applying for. It is competitive, but it’s a good way to challenge yourself,” said Lo, who is from Connelly Springs.

Javon Nathaniel

Walker College of Business

Nathaniel, a Wilson Scholar and student in Appalachian’s Honors College, will spend the fall semester studying in Japan.

“Thanks to this funding, I’ll be able to experience my childhood dream of traveling to Japan and studying more about the culture I love and prepare for my honors thesis topic,” said Nathaniel, a senior international business major from Charlotte with a minor in Japanese.

Kevin Garcia Bautista

College of Fine and Applied Arts

During fall 2019, Bautista, who is originally from Chicavasco, Mexico, but now resides in Boone, will use his Gilman award to complete a multicountry Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) program in Berlin and London.

“To be the first member of my family to attend college is the biggest achievement I’ve accomplished in life,” shared Bautista, a senior communication, public relations major with a double minor in global studies and nonprofit organizations.

“I hope to leave a legacy of excellence and success to my siblings and other first-generation college students,” he added.

Sara Sallam

College of Fine and Applied Arts

Sallam, a senior from Coram, New York, majoring in industrial design with a concentration in product design, will study abroad in fall 2019 at Howest University in Kortrijk, Belgium.

She said while there, she will be continuing her studies in product design and exploring its implications in a global market.

Since its inception in 2001, the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship has provided funding for 28,000 award recipients, from 1,324 U.S. institutions, to study or intern in 149 countries.

Gilman encourages applications from first-generation college students, students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, ethnic minorities, students with disabilities, those in the military, students attending community colleges and minority-serving institutions and any student interested in traveling abroad.

For more information about the Gilman Scholarship Program and how to apply, contact Appalachian’s NCS Office at ncs@appstate.edu or visit https://ncs.appstate.edu.

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Nationally Competitive Scholarships Joins University College

University College

July 18, 2019

University College at Appalachian State University, one of nine colleges and schools within Appalachian’s Division of Academic Affairs, recently welcomed the Office of Nationally Competitive Scholarships (NCS) — formerly known as Nationally Competitive Scholarships — to its division of 17 departments and programs.

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About Nationally Competitive Scholarships

Nationally Competitive Scholarships (NCS) works with the Appalachian community to recruit and support students for nationally competitive scholarships and fellowships, including those that support research, teaching and critical language learning. This is achieved with outreach, mentorship and advising throughout the entire application and selection process. NCS is committed to helping undergraduate and graduate students find ways to connect their Appalachian education to their future endeavors through scholarship opportunities. Learn more at https://ncs.appstate.edu.

About University College

Formed in 2007, University College consists of the university’s general education program, faculty and student support, and co-curricular programming and support – all designed to support the work of students both inside and outside the classroom. All students at Appalachian begin their education in University College and benefit from its programs until they graduate. Learn more at https://universitycollege.appstate.edu.

About the College of Arts and Sciences

The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) at Appalachian State University is home to 17 academic departments, two centers and one residential college. These units span the humanities and the social, mathematical and natural sciences. CAS aims to develop a distinctive identity built upon our university's strengths, traditions and unique location. The college’s values lie not only in service to the university and local community, but through inspiring, training, educating and sustaining the development of its students as global citizens. More than 6,400 student majors are enrolled in the college. As the college is also largely responsible for implementing App State’s general education curriculum, it is heavily involved in the education of all students at the university, including those pursuing majors in other colleges. Learn more at https://cas.appstate.edu.

About the College of Fine and Applied Arts

Appalachian State University’s College of Fine and Applied Arts is a dynamic and innovative group of seven academic departments, bringing together a variety of perspectives, experiences and real-world education to provide unique opportunities for student success. The college has more than 3,000 undergraduate and graduate majors. Its departments are Applied Design, Art, Communication, Military Science and Leadership, Sustainable Development, Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment, and Theatre and Dance. Learn more at https://faa.appstate.edu.

About the Walker College of Business

The Walker College of Business at Appalachian State University delivers transformational educational experiences that prepare and inspire students to be ethical, innovative and engaged business leaders who positively impact our community, both locally and globally. The college places emphasis on international experiences, sustainable business practices, entrepreneurial programs and real-world applications with industry. Enrolling approximately 3,000 undergraduates in 10 majors and more than 180 graduate students in three master’s programs, Walker College has the highest enrollment of full-time undergraduate students in the University of North Carolina System. Walker College is accredited by AACSB International — the premier global accrediting body for business schools. Learn more at https://business.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University

As the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.