Recently Selected Phillips Ambassadors Recognized at Fall Dinner

Juliana Powell and Gabriel Allen, pictured with faculty guests Yuko Kato, far left, and Yuki Aratake, far right. Powell and Allen will study abroad in Japan as Phillips Ambassadors during spring 2015. Photo by Steve Exum.
Juliana Powell and Gabriel Allen, pictured with faculty guests Yuko Kato, far left, and Yuki Aratake, far right. Powell and Allen will study abroad in Japan as Phillips Ambassadors during spring 2015. Photo by Steve Exum.

Nine recently selected Phillips Ambassadors were honored at the annual Phillips Ambassadors fall dinner, held at the Carolina Inn on Nov. 4. The students, all University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill undergraduates, were awarded a $5,000 scholarship each for study abroad in Asia during the Spring 2015 semester. The students will be studying throughout Asia, including China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Singapore and Thailand.

Earl N. “Phil” Phillips Jr., who graduated from UNC with a business administration degree in 1962, established an endowment with his family to create the Phillips Ambassadors program. Phillips Ambassadors are selected twice a year based on academic achievement, strong communications skills, intellectual curiosity and ambition, evidence of generous service to campus and community, and a previous record of leadership.

Raymond Stanton, an environmental science major from Charlotte, visits with Greg Gangi from the UNC Institute for the Environment. Stanton will study abroad in Thailand this spring as a Phillips Ambassador. Photo by Steve Exum.
Raymond Stanton, an environmental science major from Charlotte, visits with Greg Gangi from the UNC Institute for the Environment. Stanton will study abroad in Thailand this spring as a Phillips Ambassador. Photo by Steve Exum.

Phillips and his wife, Kim Glenn Phillips, presented each student with an inscribed journal at the dinner. Also attending the dinner were members of the Phillips Ambassadors advisory board and leadership from the College of Arts and Sciences and Kenan-Flagler Business School. In addition, each Phillips Ambassador was asked to bring a faculty guest, broadening the reach and awareness of the program across campus.

Dean Karen Gil from the College of Arts and Sciences shared remarks before the dinner, and Dean Doug Shackelford from Kenan-Flagler Business School spoke later in the evening. Both applauded the Phillips Ambassadors Program and the Phillip’s family for their vision in focusing on Asia.

Since the Phillips Ambassadors program began in 2007, it has sent 228 undergraduates to Asia, including this cohort. Twenty-five percent of the scholarships are reserved for qualified undergraduate business majors and minors from Kenan-Flagler Business School. Scholarship recipients choose from more than 50 UNC-approved academic programs in Asia that are offered by the College of Arts and Sciences and Kenan-Flagler.
New Phillips Ambassador Scholarship Recipients

Erin Posas, a business administration and Asian studies double major from Raleigh, and her faculty guest, Susan Irons. Posas will study abroad in China this spring as a Phillips Ambassador. Photo by Steve Exum.
Erin Posas, a business administration and Asian studies double major from Raleigh, and her faculty guest, Susan Irons. Posas will study abroad in China this spring as a Phillips Ambassador. Photo by Steve Exum.
  • Gabriel Allen of Apex will study at Nanzan University in Nagoya, Japan. He is a biology and Asian studies double major.New Phillips Ambassador Scholarship Recipients
  • Alex Arditti of Hickory will study through the Kenan-Flagler Business School: National University of Singapore Business School program. He is majoring in business administration.
  • Blair Burnett of Cary will study through the School for International Training: Public Health, Policy Advocacy and Community in Delhi, India. She is a public policy and journalism and mass communication double major.
  • John Farmer of Charlotte will study through the Kenan-Flagler Business School: National University of Singapore Business School program. He is majoring in business administration.
  • Oscar Menzer of Greensboro will study through the UNC Institute for the Environment, Thailand Field Site in Energy and Environment in Bangkok. He is majoring in environmental science with a minor in computer science.
  • Erin Posas of Raleigh will study through the Kenan-Flagler Business School: Peking University Guanghua School of Management in Beijing. She is a business administration and Asian studies double major.
  • Juliana Powell of Chapel Hill will study at Keio University in Tokyo. She is an Asian studies major with a speech and hearing sciences and chemistry double minor.
  • Raymond Stanton of Charlotte will study through the UNC Institute for the Environment, Thailand Field Site in Energy and Environment in Bangkok. He is majoring in environmental science.
  • William Stelpflug of Raleigh will study at the University of Hong Kong. He is a peace, war and defense and economics double major.