Eight University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students received 2015 Class of 1938 Summer Project Abroad Fellowships for research abroad this summer.
The students were chosen for projects outside the United States, with selection based on the quality of applicants’ proposals, financial need and academic purpose. Each will receive $5,000. The awardees were chosen by a committee that included Class of 1938 members and former fellows.
The recipients are Martin Bahena, Andrew Royce Bauer, Carrie Bobrowski, Jamilah Dawkins, Carrie Hamilton, Emma Kelly and Jonathan Taylor Wall. Kathryn Bennett received the Charles H. and Margaret M. Witten Travel Award, also $5,000. Class of 1938 members Dr. Charles and Margaret Witten established the award in 1992.
Every year since 1975, an endowment created by UNC’s Class of 1938 has funded independent projects abroad by UNC students. Class members, who lived through and lost friends to World War II, created the endowment to help foster international understanding and promote world peace.
“These students truly embody the spirit of the Class of 1938 gift,” said Jane Rosenberg, assistant director for student and exchange visitor services in UNC International Student and Scholar Services office through which the fellowships are awarded. “The projects they are pursuing will be of benefit to them and to the communities they’re serving. They’ll work in nutrition and health, develop sports programs to empower youth and create a positive sense of community, teach in rural schools and more—all while developing long-term friendships and professional networks.”
Martin Bahena, son of Pedro Bahena and Agustina Gutierrez of Lexington, North Carolina, is majoring in chemistry. He will go to Fiji to intern with an established nutrition project that works with local communities.
Andrew Royce Bauer, son of Kathleen Bauer of Neptune, New Jersey, is majoring in African American studies. He will go to Sint Maarten to work with a basketball program that provides urban youth with a healthy outlet for activity. The program has been designed to reduce youth violence.
Kathryn Bennett, daughter of Tim and Julia Bennett of Advance, North Carolina, is majoring in environmental science. She will go to Panama for an internship with Kalu Yala, a company designing a sustainable city approximately 50 miles from Panama City.
Carrie Bobrowski, daughter of Thomas and Kelly Brobowski of New Bern, North Carolina, is majoring in dental hygiene. She will teach in multiple schools in Kenya, providing science camp-like lessons designed to help improve student performance in the math section of the Kenyan national exam.
Jamilah Dawkins, daughter of Sarah Dawkins of Hamlet, North Carolina, is majoring in global studies and African studies. She will go to the Democratic Republic of Congo to intern with MamAfrica Designs to support a community health initiative and multimedia activities.
Carrie Hamilton, daughter of Mary Eubank-Hamilton and Bradley Hamilton of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, is majoring in environmental science and geography. She will go to Ecuador to assess the ecological and cultural impacts of oil drilling and industry on the indigenous Kichwa and Huaorani communities in Yasuni National Park, Orellana, Ecuador.
Emma Kelly, daughter of John and Megan Kelly of Lafayette, New Jersey, is majoring in environmental health sciences. She will go to Ghana with research team from the Water Institute at UNC to explore community management in the context of water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH).
Jonathan Taylor Wall, son of Chris and Melinda Wall of Wilson, North Carolina, is a pre-med student majoring in biology. He will go to Peru to work with Hands on Peru, where he will attend lectures and workshops with leading physicians. Following training, he will provide services in a local health clinic and participate in rotations with doctors.
Read more about the Class of 1938 Fellowships on the International Student and Scholar Services website.
