URI Chinese Flagship students earn international scholarships to study in China

Media Contact: Brian Pernicone, 401-874-7245

KINGSTON, R.I. – March 11, 2015 – Three University of Rhode Island Chinese Flagship Program students are among more than 100 American undergraduate students from 69 colleges and universities across the country selected to receive the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. The scholarship program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and supports study or internships abroad. 


Quang Le, a junior Chinese and electrical engineering student from Cranston, R.I., Lariah Maynard, a sophomore biology and Chinese major from Groton, Conn., and Grayson Hoover, a freshman Chinese major from Providence, R.I., will study in China for eight weeks this summer. 

The award was an unexpected honor for all three recipients, who uniformly said they thought the scholarship was out of their reach.

“I didn’t think I would get it. It was definitely a shock and surprise,” Maynard said. “I was really nervous about paying for the trip so, before I heard the news, I found a job this semester as a veterinary lab assistant to help pay for it.” 

Gilman scholars receive up to $5,000 to apply toward their study abroad or internship program costs. Le earned the Critical Need Language Award, worth a total of $8,000. 

Le, Maynard and Hoover will attend their summer session in China with the goal of achieving advanced proficiency in Mandarin, an essential step in preparation for their Flagship Capstone Year in China. 

Story continued at http://www.uri.edu/news/releases/?id=7391