Three Georgia Tech undergraduate students have been selected as the recipients of full scholarships funded by the Chinese government for the 2011-2012 academic year.

David Garner is a 3rd year Computer Science major who is taking 3000 level classes in Chinese and hopes to pursue a career with an American technology company located in China. Laura O’Donnell, a senior who is pursuing dual majors in International Affairs and Modern Languages (IAML) and Management. She is taking 4000 level classes in Chinese and hopes to reside in China working in management operations. Ryan Yan is a sophomore majoring in Management. Yan’s parents emigrated to the U.S. from China before he was born, and he said “it would be a dream come true” to study at the university where his parents met and studied in China. He is a recipient of the Penny and E. Roe Stamps Leadership Scholarship.

These are the most prestigious scholarships awarded to American students by the Chinese Embassy and Consulate Generals in the United States and the Ministry of Education in People’s Republic of China. Recipients may choose to study at leading universities in China including Beijing University, Tsinghua University, Shanghai Jiaotong University, and Renmin University. The scholarships cover registration and tuition fees, accommodations on campus, basic learning materials, a monthly living allowance, medical insurance, and a subsidy for inter-city travel.

These new scholarships were secured by Modern Languages Assistant Professor Jin Liu who also headed the selection committee of ML faculty and staff from Georgia Tech’s Office of International Education.

“We have students here who are highly motivated to learn Chinese, Chinese culture, and China, but they can't fulfill their dream to go to China mainly due to financial constraints,” said Liu. “I believe this wonderful new opportunity will provide our students with many eye-opening experiences and help them develop a life-long interest in China.” Modern Languages hopes to be able to offer the scholarships annually going forward.