Appalachian State University seniors Myia Spivey, of Rocky Mount, left, and Chris Zaman, of Cary, have each been awarded a Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to study or intern abroad — virtually or in person — in 2021. Spivey is slated to engage in a public relations internship in Singapore this summer, and Zaman — App State’s first Gilman-McCain Scholarship recipient — plans to study abroad in Japan this fall. Photos submitted
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
Appalachian State University senior Chris Zaman, of Cary, who is double majoring in international business and supply chain management, is one of two App State students awarded a Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to study or intern abroad — virtually or in person — in 2021. He is scheduled to study abroad in Japan this fall through his awarded Gilman-McCain Scholarship, which provides funding for dependents of active-duty military members to study or intern abroad on credit-bearing programs. Photo submitted
Walker College of Business
Appalachian State University senior Myia Spivey, a communication, public relations major from Rocky Mount, is one of two App State students awarded a Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to study or intern abroad — virtually or in person — in 2021. Spivey is scheduled to engage in a public relations internship in Singapore this summer. Photo submitted
College of Fine and Applied Arts
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.
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.
