Thomas Wescoat Wins Scholarship to Study Abroad

Thomas Wescoat has always dreamed of travelling to foreign countries and experiencing how other people live. This summer, his dream will come true. Wescoat just won a $1,000 scholarship toward the Study Abroad trip to China, led by GGC’s Dr. Ellen Rafshoon.

"I knew as soon as I saw the information about the Study Abroad trip that I had to go," Wescoat says, "I grew up in Suwanee and have spent my whole life living here and visiting only the east coast. Now it’s time to see what life is like in other parts of the world. I have had the desire to go abroad for a long time. I even bought a passport last summer."

Wescoat was resolute to make traveling a part of his future. But traveling is expensive, and although he was committed to going, he still had to resolve how to pay for it. He monitored the trip information online and jumped at the chance to apply for a scholarship.

"I was going on this trip no matter what," he says, determined, "but when I realized I could supplement the funding through a scholarship, I had to go for it."

The USG Asia Council offers two $1,000 scholarships and two $500 scholarships. Application submissions are reviewed based on written essay and GPA, among other considerations. Wescoat got the email that his essay had won on his cell phone.

"I had just been configuring my phone to synchronize with my email. The very first email to come through was the one informing me I had won the scholarship. I was thrilled!"

Wescoat says he has a love of all things that are different. He plans to soak up as much culture as possible during his time in China. When asked if he thought this trip would affect his world view, he didn’t hesitate to say "absolutely."

Because of his interest and curiosity in the world, he has spent a lot of time reading through encyclopedias and taking in photos from all over the globe. The scope of his interests is wide, but he is particularly interested in ancient cultures, Asia and countries affected by the (former) U.S.S.R. He has studied Maoism and the North Korean ideology, Juche. He also is fascinated by all things medieval. Above all, perhaps, is his passion for languages. For him, choosing to be an English major was an easy choice.

"English is a communication tool, obviously, but it’s also an art form," says Wescoat.

And in fact, the breadth at which Wescoat views language, through the lens of sociolinguistics and evolutionary linguistics, allows him to satisfy his other interests in philosophy, history and world cultures.

Listening to Wescoat describe his passion for English is contagious, but he has another passion, and that’s GGC.

"I admire the professors here so much; I aspire to be like one of them. The culture that we have here is one that I truly love and enjoy. You can’t find this just anywhere. It’s outstanding."