Scholarships and Awards

Reema Samaha Endowment for Arabic Language and Culture

Established to honor the memory of Reema Samaha, who died during the tragic shooting at Virginia Tech on April 16th, 2007. The endowment is used to provide unrestricted support and discretionary funds for the Chair of the Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literature for the development and support of Arabic culture activities.  

Reema was the youngest of three children born to Joseph and Mona Samaha of Centreville, Va. She lived in Centreville for her entire life, but she truly was a citizen of the world. She embraced her Lebanese heritage, was an active member of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, traveled to the Middle East, and studied the languages and cultures of that part of the world. Reema earned a 4.0 GPA at Virginia Tech and intended to major in urban planning and to minor in French and international studies. She was a member of the Contemporary Dance Ensemble, the Hill and Veil Middle Eastern Dance Group, and the Cedars of Lebanon Club.  

Consider supporting Arabic culture activities, so we can continue to grow and improve! Support us here.

Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese and Russian (Critical Languages):

• Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship
• The Critical Language Scholarship
• Project GO Scholarship (for ROTC students)

 For more information, please contact: Rhonda Pennington, Project GO Coordinator at rwills@vt.edu

Arabic, Cantonese or Mandarin Chinese, Hebrew, Japanese, and Russian (Critical Languages):

• Boren Awards for International Study

Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, and Russian (Critical Languages):

• The Fulbright Critical Language Enhancement Award

Arabic (Critical Language):

• The Qatar Scholarship Program

Reema Samaha Endowment for Arabic Language and Culture

Established to honor the memory of Reema Samaha, who died during the tragic shooting at Virginia Tech on April 16^th, 2007. The endowment is used to provide unrestricted support and discretionary funds for Chair of the Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures for the development and support of Arabic culture activities.  

The Galen Richard Kline Scholarship (French Language)

Study abroad is not a requirement for academic year 2022-2023. The Galen Richard Kline Study Abroad Scholarship provides financial support for students studying in France or a Francophone country during the academic year. This includes students participating in the Virginia Tech Summer Program in Paris, or in the Virginia Tech Summer Program in Sénégal.

Scholarship awards have ranged between $500 and $3000. The amount varies according to the number of applicants, length of stay, and the applicants’ qualifications.

Application deadline (including recommendation letters): November 15, 2022.

Download the application and submit by email.

For more information, contact Dr. Medoune Gueye (mgueye@vt.edu).

The Megan Christenson Memorial Scholarship (French Language)

Created to honor the life of Megan E. Christenson, a former Virginia Tech double major in French and Communication. The scholarship is awarded to a Virginia Tech student from those majors in alternative years. French majors are eligible in odd-numbered years. 

Requirements:

French major

Minimum 3.0 overall GPA in French

Completed at least 15 hours at Virginia Tech

Financial need determined by the Office of Scholarship and Financial Aid.

Application deadline (including recommendation letters): February 1, 2023

Download the application and submit by email.

For more information, contact Dr. Medoune Gueye (mgueye@vt.edu).

The Jocelyne Couture-Nowak Memorial Scholarship (French Language)

A merit-based scholarship for French majors established in memory of Jocelyne Couture-Nowak, who died during the tragic shooting at Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007. Dr. Couture-Nowak was a faculty member in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures. She touched and inspired many students to continue studying French.

Criteria for the recipient:

A French major at Virginia Tech

Completed at least 2 French courses at the 3000 level by the beginning of the award year and academic progress toward completion of the major

Minimum GPA of 3.3 in all French courses at the time of application and 3.0 overall

Preference given to students: Who will be juniors or seniors at the beginning of fall semester of the award year Who intend to study or complete an internship abroad during the academic terms of the award year or who have done so in the past

Application deadline (including recommendation letters): November 15, 2022.

Download the application and submit by email.

For more information, contact Dr. Medoune Gueye (mgueye@vt.edu).

Jamie Bishop Scholarship (German Language)

Created to honor the memory of Professor Christopher James “Jamie” Bishop. As a German instructor, he held “the conviction that learning a foreign language and culture is not just a joy but is fundamental to our civilization.” The Jamie Bishop Scholarship fund provides support for students majoring or minoring in German and planning on studying, interning, or conducting research in a German-speaking country.

Application requirements:

An undergraduate German major or minor

Studying, interning, or pursuing research abroad in a German speaking country

Application Form

Application Deadlines: April 1 for one or two semesters during the following academic year (including summer)

December 1 for the following spring and/or summer

If you have questions, contact Dr. Esther Bauer.  

Kevin S. Weekley Endowed Scholarship

Recipients shall be, at the time of the receipt of the scholarship funds, undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need.

Preference will be given to students who qualify according to all or any of the following:

• Spanish majors or minors in International Studies
• Participation in a study abroad semester/summer program
• “First Generation” members of their family to pursue a post-secondary education

Requires demonstrated financial need, based on the FAFSA.

Amount of scholarship: Varies by year

Deadline: November 1

Questions: Contact Dr. Aarnes Gudmestad (agudmest@vt.edu)

Supplemental Questions (included in the application)

1.     Major(s), minor(s), overall GPA, in-major GPA

2.     Projected year and term of graduation

3.     Are you a first-generation student?

4.     What university-level Spanish and/or International Studies courses have you taken?

5.     In what extracurricular Spanish activities have you participated at Virginia Tech and in what capacity?

6.     Do you intend to study in Latin America or Spain? If so, during what term (winter, spring, summer) do you plan to study abroad? Where do you intend to study? With which VT program or external program provider do you plan to study?

7.     Have you traveled/lived abroad? If so, where and for how long?

8.     Are you also receiving scholarship money from another source?

9.     In a brief essay of 500-700 words in English, explain your objectives or motivations for studying Spanish or International Studies. What impact do you foresee this program having on your studies and/or your future career?

10.  Consideration for this scholarship requires at least two brief letters of recommendation, preferably from recent Spanish professors.

Application Form