The Luce Scholars Program is a nationally competitive fellowship program launched by the Henry Luce Foundation in 1974 to enhance the understanding of Asia among potential leaders in American society.  The program is unique among American-Asian exchanges in that it is intended for young leaders who have had limited experience of Asia and who might not otherwise have an opportunity in the normal course of their careers to come to know Asia.

The program provides stipends, language training, and individualized professional placement in Asia for 15-18 Luce Scholars each year, and welcomes applications from college seniors, graduate students, and young professionals in a variety of fields.  Placements may be made in the following countries or regions: Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Applicants are evaluated on outstanding capacity for leadership, record of high achievement, maturity, and a clearly defined career path with relevant previous experience, coursework, and/or activities and demonstrated evidence of potential for significant professional accomplishments. Personal qualities such as flexibility, adaptability, creativity, humility, openness to new ideas, and sensitivity to cultural differences are as important as academic achievement.

The National and International Scholarships Program is offering a two-day informational event about the Luce Scholars Program.  On Thursday August 31st, our office will offer an informational overview session, including advice from a previous Illinois Luce recipient, followed on September 1st with a workshop designed to help students/alumni begin to craft their personal statements.

The dates and times are as follows; all events will be held in 514 Illini Union Bookstore Building, 807 S. Wright St.

August 31st  3:30-4:30 - Informational session and discussion with former Luce Scholar.

September 1st  3:30-4:30 - Workshop on how to craft a Personal Statement.

Luce Scholar deadline: September 25, 2017

More information about the Luce can be found here: http://topscholars.illinois.edu/luce  , and here:  http://www.hluce.org/lsprogram.aspx

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The Luce Scholars Program offers prestigious fellowships for 15-18 such individuals each year. A select few universities, including the University of Illinois, may nominate up to three candidates for the award. The scholarship provides an internship and all-expenses paid year in East or Southeast Asia. The goal of the program is to provide an Asian experience for those who will be future leaders in their field and communities, but have yet to come in much contact with Asian affairs. Thus, Asian studies majors/minors or anyone who has been to Asia for more than eight weeks are not eligible. No prior Asian language study is required. Any senior, graduate student or young professional who is a U.S. citizen and under the age of 29 is eligible to apply. Both the on-line application and additional information about the Luce Scholars Program may be obtained from: http://topscholars.illinois.edu/luce

If interested, please contact David Schug or Jeff Yockey, National and International Scholarships Program, 807 South Wright Street, Fifth Floor, Illini Union Bookstore, or at topscholars@illinois.edu or (217) 333-4710. The campus deadline for completed applications (including official transcripts from all college and graduate work and four letters of recommendation) is noon on Monday, September 25, 2017. The National and International Scholarships Program is also willing to review your application materials in order to provide you feedback prior to the September 25 deadline.

Thanks to Jeff Yockey National and International Scholarships Program for this information item.