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July 3, 2006
For more information, contact: Kimberly Kreider (901) 333-4023
Southwest Student wins Scholarship to Study in ASIA
Written by Brenda J. Rayner
Southwest student, Kristina Thomas, received a Freeman Awards for Study
in Asia (Freeman-ASIA) Academic Scholarship in the amount of $7,000 for
the 2006-07 academic year to study abroad in Asia. The award, presented
by the Freeman Foundation and the Institute of International Education (IIE),
is designed to support American undergraduates with demonstrated
financial need who are planning to study overseas in East or Southeast
Asia. The primary goal of Freeman-ASIA*, is to increase the number of
American undergraduate students to study in East and Southeast Asia.
Thomas, a history major at Southwest, is particularly interested Chinese
history and culture. Her employment at the Peabody Chinese Museum fed
her appetite for Asian culture until her big break came. “I’ve always
been fascinated by China and Chinese Culture,” said Thomas. “I’ve always
wanted to go abroad and study in China. It’s taken me awhile to get
there. I knew it would happen one day.”
The scholarship acquisition was a very competitive process. There were
700 applicants nationwide, including those from prestigious schools such
as Harvard and Yale, out of which 140 applicants were chosen. The
application process included a service proposal requiring recipients
upon their return, to share their experiences with their home campuses
for the purpose of encouraging study in Asia by others, and to spread
greater understanding of Asian peoples and cultures within their
specific communities. Thomas elected to create a diversity club for
kids. “What I’d like to do is have college students and high school
students to help with that club. I want to take the kids on tours to
different places like the Chinese and Jewish museums to show them
different cultures,” remarked Thomas, who said her inspiration for the
kids club came from the Southwest Honors Services Program sponsored by
Dr. Clarence Christian.
Thomas attributes the administration and faculty at Southwest for her
success in the acquisition of the Freeman-ASIA scholarship. She delayed
enrolling in college directly after high school. When conditions were
right for college, friends encouraged her to go to Southwest because of
the quality of education it offers as well as the transfer scholarships
available to four year institutions.
Karen Chu of the U.S. Programs Division of Freeman-ASIA said Thomas is
the only student from Memphis ever to receive this award. The only other
recipient from the state of Tennessee is a Middle Tennessee State
student. Thomas’ career goal is to become a museum curator.
*
http://www.iie.org/programs/freeman-asia/index.html.
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