Seventeen Undergraduates Selected as UNC Phillips Ambassadors for Study in Asia
April 25, 2019
Carolina Asia Center
Seventeen undergraduates from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have been selected as Phillips Ambassadors for Summer and Fall 2019 study abroad programs in Asia. Undergraduate scholarship recipients will study in Bhutan, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Singapore and South Korea. Twenty-five percent of the scholarships are reserved for qualified undergraduate business majors and minors at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, and up to two scholarships each year are available to qualified Duke University undergraduates. In addition, one anthropology doctoral student was awarded a Graduate Phillips Ambassador award for research in Thailand this summer.
The Phillips Ambassadors Program is a program of the Carolina Asia Center, in association with the Study Abroad Office. Phillips Ambassadors are selected twice a year and receive $5,000 each, and ambassadors attending the inaugural UNC Phillips Summer in Shanghai program at NYU Shanghai this summer will receive $7,000. 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.
Phillips Ambassadors choose from more than 70 academic programs in Asia that are approved by the College of Arts and Sciences and Kenan-Flagler Business School. Scholarship recipients enroll in a three-credit hour global studies course designed uniquely for them and led by Carolina’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, which can include endeavors such as published articles, classroom presentations at a student’s hometown high school, photo and art exhibitions, musical performances and group projects.
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. The first group of Phillips Ambassadors studied abroad in Asia in the summer of 2007. By the end of 2019, 337 Carolina undergraduates will have studied abroad in Asia as Phillips Ambassadors.
“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 new Phillips Ambassadors are listed below alphabetically by North Carolina county, followed by out-of-state and international recipients. Learn more on the Phillips Ambassadors website.
North Carolina Recipients
Buncombe County
Robbie Luna, a psychology major from Weaverville, will study through the UNC Summer in Japan program.
Ellie Moran, an anthropology major from Fairview, will study through the UNC Summer in India program.
Catawba County
Katelyn Shadowens, an Asian studies and communication studies double major from Hickory, will study through the CET Harbin Intensive Language fall program.
Mecklenburg County
Morgan Hanchard, a public relations major from Charlotte, will study through the UNC Phillips Summer in Shanghai program.
David Hutto, a corporate finance major from Charlotte, will study through the Chinese University of Hong Kong Business School fall program.
Meet Jain, a corporate finance major from Charlotte, will work through the KFBS International Internship Hong Kong summer program.
Amanda Roberts, a communications major from Charlotte will study through the UNC Phillips Summer in Shanghai program.
June Yom, a global studies and public policy double major from Charlotte will study through the Korea University summer program.
New Hanover County
Alaina Plauche, a public policy major from Wilmington will study through the API Bhutan: Royal Thimphu College and Internship fall program.
Orange County
Sofia Dimos, a computer science major from Chapel Hill, will study through the National University of Singapore Computing fall program.
Rockingham County
Dana Suleiman, a psychology and biology double major from Eden, will study through the UNC Phillips Summer in Shanghai program.
Wake County
Ann Suk, a doctoral student in anthropology from Raleigh, will conduct rglesearch in Thailand as the Graduate Phillips Ambassador and serve as the teaching assistant for the global studies course associated with the program.
Out-of-State Recipients
Molly Cartwright, a global studies and public policy double major from Vero Beach, Fla., will study through the SIT India Sustainable Development and Social Change fall program.
Kelly Lin, a biochemistry major from Jacksonville, Fla., will study through the UNC Phillips Summer in Shanghai program.
Bernard Witek, a business administration and global studies double major from Queens, N.Y., will work through the KFBS International Internship Hong Kong summer program.
Madison Zezzo, a business administration major from Doylestown, Pa., will work through the KFBS International Internship Hong Kong summer program.a
Riley Head, an information science major from Lynchburg, Va., will study through the National University of Singapore Arts and Sciences fall program.
International Recipient
Daniel Ogunbamowo, an economic history and political science double major from Chelmsford, U.K., will study through the University of Hong Kong fall program.