By Ty Hollowell
University Relations and Creative Services Office
CONWAY – A University of Central Arkansas student is has received the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for study abroad.
Christopher Aaron Nooner is one of more than 1,150 undergraduate students from 377 colleges and who were selected to receive the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs sponsors the scholarship.
“I feel honored to have received the Gilman scholarship. It has actually taken me five years to get to this point, and I received a lot of help from the professors and staff at UCA,” said Nooner.
Gilman scholars receive up to $5,000 to apply towards their study abroad or internship program costs. The program aims to diversify the students who study and intern abroad and the countries and regions where they go. Students receiving a federal Pell Grant from two- and four-year institutions who will be studying abroad or participating in a career-oriented international internship for academic credit are eligible to apply. Scholarship recipients have the opportunity to gain a better understanding of other cultures, countries, languages and economies — making them better prepared to assume leadership roles within government and the private sector.
Nooner was awarded $3,500 to study Mandarin Chinese. He will live in Shanghai, China and study at East China Normal University. In conjunction with the Gilman International Scholarship, Nooner also received an Office of Study Abroad Scholarship and Confucius Institute Scholarship. Nooner hopes to teach in China upon his graduation.
