BOONE, N.C. — Singapore and Japan are on the horizon for two Appalachian State University seniors awarded the U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. App State’s Office of Nationally Competitive Scholarships (NCS), a division of University College, and Office of International Education and Development (OIED) announced the honor.

The recipients — Chris Zaman, of Cary, and Myia Spivey, of Rocky Mount — are scheduled to study or intern abroad, virtually or in person, beginning this summer and fall. Zaman will study in Japan; Spivey has been awarded an internship in Singapore. They are among 900 undergraduate students nationwide offered 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. representative 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.

Since its inception in 2001, the program has received more than 125,000 applications and provided funding for 33,000-plus award recipients to study or intern abroad.

Should the suspension of university-sponsored travel continue into the summer and fall terms, OIED and the Gilman Scholarship Program will work with Spivey and Zaman to identify other internship and study abroad opportunities that will allow them to achieve their international goals, according to OIED Director of Education Abroad Chrissie Faupel.

About the App State Gilman Scholars

Chris Zaman

Walker College of Business

Chris Zaman, who is double majoring in international business and supply chain management, is App State’s first recipient of the John McCain International Scholarship for the Children of Military Families, named in honor of the late U.S. senator John S. McCain. The Gilman-McCain Scholarship provides funding for dependents of active-duty military members to study or intern abroad on credit-bearing programs.

Zaman said he was inspired to apply for the scholarship after observing the positive experiences his family and peers have had on their trips abroad. He plans to use his Gilman award to study Japanese language and culture at Japan’s Kansai Gaidai University this fall.

“As a Gilman recipient, I feel many doors have been opened for me both on a personal and professional level,” he said. “I hope to improve upon my cultural literacy, expand my network abroad and have a fun time while I am at it.”

When he returns from Japan, Zaman said he aims to inspire others App State students to pursue experiences abroad.

Return to list

Myia Spivey

College of Fine and Applied Arts

Myia Spivey, a communication, public relations major, plans to use her Gilman award to engage in a public relations internship in Singapore this summer.

Spivey said she looks forward to the professional development opportunities provided through the internship and that she hopes to “gain friendships and connections that will last a lifetime.”

“I have applied for this scholarship three times and being awarded a scholarship that is extremely competitive and highly sought after gives me a confidence boost and motivates me to work even harder,” said Spivey, who worked with consultants in App State’s University Writing Center to craft her application essays.

Spivey described the application process as “intense but 100% doable” and recommends that applicants revise their application essays often.

After returning from Singapore, she plans to share her experiences with her hometown of Rocky Mount to inspire young students to pursue similar opportunities. “I want them to know they can have the same opportunities that I had if they work hard in school,” she said.

Return to list

Gilman encourages applications from first-generation college students, students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, students of color, 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 App State’s NCS Office at [email protected] or visit https://ncs.appstate.edu.

What do you think?

Share your feedback on this story.

App State students awarded record number of Gilman Scholarships for 2021 study abroad

Aug. 7, 2020

The six Gilman Scholars are the most Appalachian students to be recognized in a single Gilman award cycle. Each will receive up to $5,000 to study or intern abroad during 2021, with additional funding available for the study of critical languages overseas.

Read the story

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 the Office of International Programs

Appalachian State University combines a strong liberal arts foundation with a comprehensive, pervasive and integrated commitment to global engagement. The Office of International Programs assists App State in fulfilling its global engagement mission by working to develop awareness, knowledge, appreciation and respect of cultural differences — in both domestic and international contexts — in the university’s students, faculty and staff, as well as in the surrounding communities. Learn more at https://international.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 their communities, both locally and globally. The college places emphasis on international experiences, sustainable business practices, entrepreneurial programs and real-world applications with industry. Enrolling more than 4,000 undergraduates in 11 majors, Walker College has the highest enrollment of full-time undergraduate students in the University of North Carolina System, and more than 250 graduate students are enrolled in the college’s three master’s programs. App State’s Walker College is accredited by AACSB International — the premier global accrediting body for business schools. Learn more at https://business.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 3,500 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://cfaa.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, 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.