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)

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 Senegal.

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

Must be a French major at Virginia Tech.

Fill out the appliation form at Scholarship Centeral. 

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. 

Completed at least 15 hours at Virginia Tech.

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

Fill out the appliation form at Scholarship Centeral. 

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 was 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.

Must be 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.

Preference is 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.

Fill out the appliation form at Scholarship Centeral. 

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

Jamie Bishop Scholarship (German Language)

The Jamie Bishop Memorial Scholarship was established in memory and in honor of Christopher James “Jamie” Bishop, who died during the tragic shooting at Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007.  Jamie was a faculty member in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures.  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 - if we are to be civilized.”

The scholarship is for an undergraduate student who at the time of receipt of the study abroad funds is a German major or minor and who is participating in a study abroad program in a German-speaking country for either a semester or a year.  The funds may also be used to support such a student pursuing an internship or research in a German-speaking country.

According to Virginia Tech guidelines, the recipient of the scholarship must write a letter of thanks to the donor. This letter must be submitted to the chair of the selection committee, Dr. Esther Bauer at bauere@vt.edu.

Please note that acceptance of this scholarship may affect your financial aid package.

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 the upcoming summer

December 1 for the following spring and/or summer

If you have questions, contact Dr. Esther Bauer.  

Kevin S. Weekley Endowed Scholarship

Deadline: November 1

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

Amount of scholarship: Varies by year

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 students (those who are the first in their family to pursue a post-secondary degree)

These scholarships are competitive, so please complete all components of the application on Scholarship Central.

Before preparing and submitting this application, please note that only those students who have demonstrated financial need (as determined by the FAFSA and the Office of Scholarship and Financial Aid) are eligible for this scholarship. If students have financial need based on the FAFSA and all of this need has been met, they are not eligible to apply for the scholarship.

Marcos Arvind Venkatesh-Caña Endowed Scholarship

Deadline: November 12

The Marcos Arvind Venkatesh-Caña Endowed Scholarship was established in 2022 in memory and in honor of Marcos Arvind Venkatesh-Caña, son of Spanish Professors Caña Jiménez and Venkatesh, who passed away due to medical negligence at birth on November 12th, 2020.

Requirement: Spanish majors intending to study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country

Amount of scholarship: Varies by year

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

• First-generation students (those who are the first in their family to pursue a post-secondary degree)
• Students from under-represented and under-served groups

These scholarships are competitive, so please complete all components of the application on Scholarship Central.