Two WKU students were recognized by the Freeman Awards for Study in Asia scholarship program. Bradley Orr of Guston was awarded a scholarship of up to $7,000 to study abroad during the 2017-18 academic year. Rheanna Bostick of Cadiz was selected as an alternate. Both are students in the Mahurin Honors College at WKU.  

Orr, a second-year Asian religions and cultures and international affairs major and student in the Chinese Flagship program, is the son of Karen and Kenneth Orr. He will study at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea, during the 2017-18 academic year.  After WKU, Orr plans to utilize his knowledge of critical Asian languages in the U.S. Department of State.

“Studying abroad is, without a doubt, an absolutely amazing, enriching, and fun experience,” Orr said. “With the help of my faculty mentors, the Office of Scholar Development, and the Office of Study Abroad and Global Learning, I am able to spend an entire year of college on the other side of the world in South Korea.”

Bostick, a third-year Asian religions and cultures and international business major, is the daughter of Laura and Steve Bostick. She will study at Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka, Japan, during the 2017-18 academic year. After WKU, Bostick plans to work with Japanese sports clothing or video game companies.

“In a time when organizational globalization is at an all-time high, studying abroad provides substantial advantages for those who choose to participate,” Bostick said. “Anyone can earn a college degree, but not everyone gets the opportunity to actively participate in another culture.”

Both students worked with the Office of Scholar Development at WKU in preparing their Freeman-ASIA applications and with the Office of Study Abroad and Global Learning to find the best academic program abroad to fit their goals.

Cory Dodds, Coordinator of Nationally Competitive Opportunities in the Office of Scholar Development, said: “Bradley’s and Rheanna’s year abroad will equip them with essential skills to be competitive in a global workforce. Thanks to the Freeman-ASIA scholarship program, these experiences are within their financial reach.”

Freeman-ASIA is designed to support U.S.-based undergraduates with demonstrated financial need who are planning to study overseas in east or southeast Asia. The program’s goal is to increase the number of U.S. citizens and permanent residents with first-hand exposure to and understanding of Asia and its peoples and cultures. Award recipients are required to share their experiences with their home campuses or communities to encourage study abroad by others and fulfill the program's goal of increasing understanding of Asia in the United States.

About the Office of Scholar Development: The Office of Scholar Development is committed to helping WKU students in all majors and degree programs develop the vision, experience and skills to be independent, engaged scholars. OSD welcomes the opportunity to work with students interested in nationally competitive scholarships.

About the Office of Study Abroad and Global Learning (SAGL): SAGL serves the WKU community by engaging students, faculty and staff in diverse, educational, and cultural experiences through faculty-led, exchange, consortia and other study abroad opportunities. For information about the Office of Study Abroad, visit www.wku.edu/studyabroad. The office can be contacted via e-mail at study.abroad@wku.edu or by phone at (270) 745-5334.

About the Mahurin Honors College at WKU: WKU is home of the first independent Honors College at a public university in Kentucky. Created in 2007, the Mahurin Honors College at WKU provides an intimate, highly selective learning environment where college-age gifted and high-achieving students can develop the skills to prepare them for success in the nation’s top academic and career opportunities. Contact: (270) 745-2081.

Contact: Cory Dodds, (270) 745-5043