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A few weeks before Christmas, University of North Georgia (Â鶹¾«Æ·ÔÚÏß²¥·Å) student Kimberly Burns received an early present. She and seven other Â鶹¾«Æ·ÔÚÏß²¥·Å students were awarded the . The program enables students who are eligible for the to study or intern abroad for at least three weeks and gain skills critical to national security and economic competitiveness.

"This will be my first time to travel abroad and my first plane ride," said Burns, a senior pursuing a degree in East Asian Studies with a concentration in Chinese. "I'm excited and looking forward to a rewarding experience."

The 24-year-old from Boston, Georgia, plans to immerse herself in the Taiwanese culture and Mandarin Chinese language for nearly two months during summer 2021. Joining her for their own unique experiences in six other countries are seven others from Â鶹¾«Æ·ÔÚÏß²¥·Å.

• Makae Bythewood, a senior pursuing a degree in elementary and special education, plans to study in New Zealand.
• Caleb Brooks, a senior pursuing a degree in film & digital media with a media studies concentration, plans to study in Japan.
• Stephanie Castillo, a junior pursuing a degree in psychology, plans to study in Australia.
• Haley Menees, a freshman pursuing a degree in biology, plans to study in Peru.
• Hannah Menees, a sophomore pursuing a degree in biology, plans to study in Peru.
• Maggie Simmons, a junior pursuing a degree in modern languages with a concentration in Chinese for global professionals, plans to study in China.
• Philip Weed, a senior pursuing a degree in cybersecurity, plans to study in Jordan.

Simmons, a 20-year-old from Snellville, Georgia, is looking forward to her experience in China for two reasons. First, last spring she was selected as an alternate for the Critical Language Scholarship before the programs were suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Second, she hopes to return to the country of her birth.

"I've always wanted to study abroad and improve my Chinese language skills," Simmons said. "But I've wanted to go to the place I was born since I was adopted from China."

Dr. Kathryn Quinto, fellowships adviser for the nationally competitive scholarships office at Â鶹¾«Æ·ÔÚÏß²¥·Å, explained that the Gilman scholarship provides students like Burns and Simmons the opportunity to learn about another culture and language through an immersive experience.

"This helps broaden their perspective and strengthens their intercultural communication skills," she said. "It also helps them to be more competitive for graduate school and in their future careers."

Sisters Haley and Hannah Menees of Cumming, Georgia, said their trip to Peru will help them improve their Spanish-speaking skills, which is a priority for the aspiring doctors.

"I want to become an OB/GYN doctor, specializing in gynecologic oncology," said Haley, an 18-year-old freshman. "This trip will increase my linguistic proficiency and understanding of the underlying logic and values that affect the medical outcomes of the second-largest ethnicity in the United States, the Hispanic populations."

The sisters said they selected Peru for their study abroad experience to live with a host family.

"We want to meet with the locals and have that enriching cultural experience," said Hannah, a 20-year-old sophomore.

Quinto also credits the Center for Global Engagement (CGE) for promoting the study abroad programs in the new virtual environment and helping students find their ideal situation.

"CGE has been amazing in their outreach and support for students," Quinto said. "We collaborate with colleagues in CGE to advise students during each step of the application process."

Students interested in learning more about nationally competitive scholarships, including Gilman, should contact ncs@ung.edu for more information. Students interested in learning about study abroad opportunities through various programs may visit Â鶹¾«Æ·ÔÚÏß²¥·Å's Center for Global Engagement.