Fourteen undergraduates from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have been selected as Phillips Ambassadors for summer, fall and academic year 2021 study abroad programs in Asia.
Undergraduate scholarship recipients will study in Hong Kong, Singapore, and South Korea.
The Phillips Ambassadors Program is a program of UNC’s Carolina Asia Center, in association with the Study Abroad Office in the College of Arts & Sciences. Phillips Ambassadors are selected twice a year and receive $6,000 each. Selection is based on strong communication skills, intellectual curiosity and engagement, academic achievement, evidence of generous service to the campus and wider community, and a previous record of leadership.
Twenty-five percent of the scholarships are reserved for qualified undergraduate business majors and minors at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. Up to two scholarships each year are available to qualified Duke University undergraduates.
Phillips Ambassadors choose from more than 70 academic programs in Asia that are approved by the College of Arts & Sciences and Kenan-Flagler Business School. Scholarship recipients enroll in a three-credit hour global studies course designed uniquely for them. Led by UNC’s Earl N. Phillips Jr. Distinguished Professor of International Studies, Michael Tsin, the course challenges students to explore their study abroad locale in significant detail and seek understanding of the region in a global context.
A distinguishing feature of the program is an emphasis on what is called a “Give Back,” or sharing of one’s study abroad experience in Asia with the Carolina community and the student’s hometown. In accepting the scholarship, students agree to fulfill a Give Back related to their study abroad experience. Give Backs include endeavors such as published articles, classroom presentations at a student’s hometown high school, photo and art exhibitions, musical performances and group projects focused on Asia.
The Phillips Ambassadors Program is made possible through a gift from Carolina alumnus Earl N. “Phil” Phillips Jr., an entrepreneur and former U.S. ambassador, and his family.
“Our goal with this gift has been to encourage more students to spend their study abroad experiences focused on Asia — an increasingly vital region of the future,” said Phillips, who splits his time between High Point and Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
The first group of Phillips Ambassadors studied abroad in Asia in the summer of 2007. By the end of 2021, more than 350 Carolina undergraduates will have studied abroad in Asia as Phillips Ambassadors.
The new Phillips Ambassadors are listed below alphabetically by North Carolina county, followed by out-of-state and international recipients.
NORTH CAROLINA RECIPIENTS
Cabarrus
Kelly Yu of Harrisburg will study through the Chinese University of Hong Kong fall program. She is a computer science and statistics and analytics double major.
Cumberland
Lauren Tart of Fayetteville will study through the Yonsei University fall program. She is an Asian studies and political science double major.
Franklin
Sovanny Taylor of Louisburg will study through the Yonsei University international summer school program. She is a biology and medical anthropology double major.
Surry
Destiny Garcia of Elkin will study through the National University of Singapore UNC-NUS Joint Degree academic year program. She is a global studies major.
Orange
Eleanor Murray of Chapel Hill will study through the Yonsei University international summer school program. She is a global studies and American studies double major.
Skyler Noble of Chapel Hill will study through the Yonsei University international summer school program. She is an applied mathematics and biostatistics double major.
Wake
Gina Chang of Cary will study through the Yonsei University international summer school program. She is a psychology major.
Allyson Dennis of Raleigh will study through the Yonsei University international summer school program. She is a business administration major.
Jacqueline Gu of Raleigh will study through the Yonsei University international summer school program. She is a quantitative biology and English double major.
Caroline Le of Raleigh will study through the Yonsei University international summer school program. She is a health policy and management major.
Stuti Parekh of Cary will study through the Yonsei University international summer school program. She is an advertising/public relations major.
OUT-OF-STATE RECIPIENTS
Colorado
Aimee Yan of Westminster will study through the Yonsei University international summer school program. She is a public policy major.
New York
Jonathan Liao of Flushing will study through the Yonsei University fall program. He is a neuroscience major.
INTERNATIONAL RECIPIENT
Hugo Lemos of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil will study through the Yonsei University international summer school program. He is a computer science major.
Learn more on the Phillips Ambassadors website. Think Study Abroad. Think Asia.