The Impact of COVID-19 on International Scholarships
COVID-19 has affected social engagement worldwide. International scholarships that support cultural exchange between the United States and other countries have been equally impacted. Within the last month Fulbright suspended its Outreach Lecturing Fund and Student Program. The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) suspended its 2020 Summer Program. Gilman Scholars worldwide have been asked to return home. While these decisions have also caused cancellation of much anticipated campus activities and student opportunities planned for April at UND, remote engagement is now the creative solution. Prioritizing safety allows us to demonstrate the very traits that competitive scholarships seek: resilience, creativity, courage, leadership, and service. A person whose life story is the epitome of resilience is our student of the month for April, CLS 2020 Awardee, Ranju Dhungana.
Yee Han Chu PhD MSSW UND Academic Support and Fellowship Opportunities Coordinator
Fulbright OPENS! Prepare your application NOW to teach, research, or study abroad in Fall 2021!
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program provides awards or grants for individually designed Study/Research projects or for English Teaching Assistant Programs. A candidate will submit a Statement of Grant Purpose defining activities to take place during one academic year in a participating country outside the U.S. During their grants, Fulbrighters will meet, work, live with and learn from the people of the host country, sharing daily experiences. CAMPUS DUE DATE: September 6, 2020. NATIONAL DUE DATE: October 6, 2020.
Fulbright Student Program Website
Getting Started - SIGN UP for Selecting Award Type Webinar (April 13th)
English Teaching Assistant Award
The Fulbright English Teaching Assistant programs place grantees in schools overseas to supplement local English language instruction and to provide a native speaker presence in the classrooms.
Study-Research Award
The Fulbright Study/Research Award is the traditional award opportunity where candidates design a proposal/project for a specific country. They will typically work with advisers at foreign universities or other institutes of higher education. The study/research awards are available in approximately 140 countries. Program requirements vary by country, so applicants' first step is to familiarize themselves with the program summary for the host country.
Graduate Degree Award
The Fulbright Graduate Degree Award offers funded graduate study in selected countries and programs. Standard benefits include monthly living stipend, health benefits and round-trip airfare and may include tuition coverage for the graduate degree program. See the country summaries for specific details.
Campus Presentations/Lectures
April 2, 2020 at 3:30PM, a Fulbright Personal Statement, presented in Prof. Melissa Gjellstad's class, LANG 380 - Global Gateways: Infertility Around the World.
A recorded lecture by Fulbright Visiting Scholar, Dr. Donatas Murauskas, Lithuania and the European Court of Human Rights: A Regional Approach to Standardizing Human Rights Standards and Practices, presented in Dr. Paul Sum's class, POLS 321-International Human Rights.
Student Spotlight: Ranju Dhungana-Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) 2020 Awardee, Hindi
I was born in a refugee camp in Nepal, where I spent eleven years of my life, but Grand Forks has been my home for the last ten years. Living in a Bhutanese-Nepalese refugee camp prepared me in the journey of life. I grew up without electricity, clean drinking water, accessible medications and overall, poor quality of life.
Getting an opportunity to come to the United States was a real blessing. Even then as a teenager, I knew that I was going to be in a different environment and adapting to it would be difficult. The first few months were the toughest. Basic daily activities seemed like an uphill battle- from using electronic appliances to using the restroom. I had to use hand gestures for communication, as English was foreign to me.
The CLS program is a great opportunity for me to learn the Hindi language. In Nepal, I grew up listening to Hindi songs on the radio. Since then, I have always had a strong desire to learn Hindi to provide care for Hindi-speaking people. Speaking a new language requires a great deal of practice and it is always beneficial to start as soon as possible. Because Hindi is very close to Nepali, as they share the same alphabet, I believe that my understanding of Nepali will make learning Hindi easier. While at UND, I have developed friendships with native Hindi speaking people who help me with my vocabulary and pronunciations.
I am very passionate about the CLS program as it would help me to move closer to my goal of helping people in impoverished countries, especially those who speak Hindi. I came from a country speaking one language. As I had to adapt to life in the U.S., I had to learn a second language, English. As I give back to others, I hope to learn a third language.
Ranju Dhungana is a senior majoring in Psychology and Honors with emphasis in pre-medicine at UND and a graduate of Grand Forks Red River High School. The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program is a fully funded intensive overseas language and cultural immersion program for American undergraduate and graduate students. Students spend eight to ten weeks abroad studying one of 15 critical languages. The CLS Program is part of a US government initiative to expand the number of Americans studying and mastering foreign languages that are critical to national security and economic prosperity. CLS plays an important role in preparing American students for the 21st century’s globalized workforce and increasing national competitiveness. CLS is awarded to fewer than 10 percent of applicants. Approximately 5,000 students applied the 2019-2020 application year. While the COVID-19 pandemic caused cancellation of this year’s study, Ranju plans to reapply.
Mitchell
DUE: September 2020
The George J. Mitchell Scholarship Program is a nationally competitive award for U.S. citizens sponsored by the US-Ireland Alliance. Named in honor of the former U.S. Senator's pivotal contribution to the Northern Ireland peace process, the Mitchell Scholarship is designed to introduce and connect future American leaders to the island of Ireland, while recognizing and fostering academic excellence, leadership, and a commitment to public service.
Marshall
DUE: October 2020
Marshall Scholarships finance young Americans of high ability to study for a degree in the United Kingdom. Up to fifty Scholars are selected each year to study at graduate level at an UK institution in any field of study. Assessment will be based on academic merit, leadership potential and ambassadorial potential.
Rhodes
DUE: October 2020
The Rhodes Scholarship is an international postgraduate award for students to study at the University of Oxford. Each year 32 young students from the United States are selected as Rhodes Scholars. Rhodes Scholars are chosen not only for their outstanding scholarly achievements, but for their character, commitment to others and to the common good, and for their potential for leadership in whatever domains their careers may lead.
For REMOTE Peer Assistance: Contact National Scholarship Peer Advisors (NSPA)
Are you interested in talking with a student? National Scholarship Peer Advisors help their peers seek national and international scholarship opportunities that can advance their academic and professional mission. They are here to answer questions and to offer support in the pursuit of these opportunities--now through ZOOM. Please identify which NSPA you would like to contact through their address: UND.NSPA@UND.edu
Aivaras Bartkaitis Military & BOREN, PROJECT GO and TILLMAN Scholarships
Austin Demolee Pre-Med Internships
Cale Gressman Humanities & HERTOG FOUNDATION Scholarships
Emmanuel Musa Business & HERTOG FOUNDATION and KNIGHT-HENNESSY Scholarships
Michelle Nguyen Economics and Political Science & DREAM AWARD and TRUMAN Scholarships
Kincaid Rowbotham STEM & GOLDWATER and DAAD-RISE Scholarships
Interested in advising students on national scholarships Fall 2020 Semester?
- Highly Motivated
- Positive and Encouraging
- Organized and Timely
Contact Yee Han Chu PhD MSSW
Yee Han Chu PhD MSSW
Email: yee.chu@und.edu
Website: https://und.edu/academics/national-scholarships/
Location: Columbia Hall, RM B307, 501 N. Columbia R. Stop 7187
Phone: (701) 777-4436
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