This year, the Office of Nationally Competitive Scholarships is celebrating five years of providing mentorship and assistance to students seeking to participate in once in a lifetime opportunities that will advance their academic, professional, and creative aspirations. From participating in cutting edge research in an internationally acclaimed lab, to experiencing the vibrant culture and cuisine of a foreign country, our office prides itself on turning the dreams of our students into a reality.
Five years ago, our office transitioned from our longstanding identity as the “Prestigious Scholarship Program” which was housed in the Honors College. Now, we find our home within University College in order to increase accessibility and broaden the scope of our services.The scholarships we support help students study and intern abroad, immerse in cultures and languages, participate in research opportunities, teach at various levels, and connect to global experiences.These scholarships are geared towards experiential learning and rigorous academic experiences. With the community of Appalachian State University at our core, we aim to elevate the success of all students.
Going forward the office plans to continue fostering invaluable relationships with campus, national, and international partners that can advance our commitment to diversity and inclusion, and global engagement. Many of the awards that we support, but particularly the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship and the Fulbright Student Scholarship, align with our mission to assist students who have historically faced obstacles in participating in prestigious programs.
The Office of Nationally Competitive Scholarships works closely with a portfolio of scholarships designed for the specific audience of students at Appalachian State University. With a legacy of producing excellent candidates, these scholarships fund opportunities for students pursuing a diverse array of disciplines. It is the excellence of our mentees and our mentors that we owe our longstanding success in being named a top producer of Fulbright Scholars.
At all stages of student mentorship, the Office of Nationally Competitive Scholarships maintains a standard of excellence that we aim to imbue within the application efforts of our students. We view the application process itself as a vehicle for self reflection and organization of a student's story. Whether or not our students are awarded funding, they can leave our office with materials that reflect their journey thus far, setting them up for future success with other scholarships, graduate school, and job applications.
As a testament to our efforts, each year we have the privilege of sharing success stories of students who have been awarded a nationally competitive scholarship to pursue their passions across the world. Whether it be studying Japanese calligraphy in a Buddhist Temple, or working with the U.S. Embassy of Mongolia to assist diplomatic endeavors in rural Mongolia, our students have made the most of the ample funding available through the scholarships we support.
The Office of Nationally Competitive Scholarships would like to thank the students, staff, faculty, and administrators that have participated in and supported the work we pride ourselves in for the last five years. We would like to extend a special thank you to Dean Jefford Vahlbusch from the honors college, Dr. Laurie Seems from the Hayes School of Music, Dr. Beverly Moser from the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, and the Office of International Education and Development.
With many years ahead of us, we are excited to continue mentoring every student that comes to us wishing to share their stories; we’ll help in realizing their next chapter.
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About Nationally Competitive Scholarships
Nationally Competitive Scholarships (NCS) works with the Appalachian community to recruit and support students for nationally competitive scholarships and fellowships, including those that support research, teaching and critical language learning. This is achieved with outreach, mentorship and advising throughout the entire application and selection process. NCS is committed to helping undergraduate and graduate students find ways to connect their Appalachian education to their future endeavors through scholarship opportunities. Learn more at https://ncs.appstate.edu.
About the Office of International Education and Development
The OIED is responsible for spearheading the internationalization efforts at Appalachian. The internationalization mission of Appalachian is to develop awareness, knowledge, appreciation and respect of cultural differences in both domestic and international contexts in its students, faculty, staff and the surrounding communities. The university is also dedicated to creating a campus environment that builds the theoretical and practical skills needed to interact effectively in a global society. Learn more at https://international.appstate.edu.
About the Office of Research
Appalachian State University’s Office of Research provides support for the research, creative, and scholarly endeavors of Appalachian faculty, staff and students. The office consists of four units: Grants Resources and Services, Sponsored Programs, Research Design and Analysis, and Research Protections. The Office of Research also collaborates with the university’s Special Funds Accounting on the fiscal management of awarded projects. Learn more at https://research.appstate.edu.
Compiled and Written by James Auwn
February 10th, 2023
Boone, N.C.
