A Nebraska Wesleyan University junior will spend his summer in China studying Mandarin thanks to the U.S. Department of State’s Critical Language Scholarship.
Michael Sutherland, a political science major from Omaha, will spend the summer in intensive language classes, followed by individualized tutoring and group activities with other students in the program.
The prestigious national scholarship provides funding for students to attend the intensive summer language institute overseas. The program provides the equivalent of one academic year of language study.
Sutherland studied abroad at the Chinese University of Hong Kong during the 2011-2012 academic year. Prior to that, he participated in a NWU summer study trip to India. Along with his political science major, he is minoring in Chinese and economics.
His interest in Asia was influenced by Chinese language classes taken during his first year at Nebraska Wesleyan. He was also exposed to the Mandarin language by Taiwanese relatives.
Following graduation from NWU in 2014, Sutherland hopes to return to Hong Kong to teach English and eventually attend graduate school. He is interested in a career in international trade, finance and economic development.
“Developing Chinese fluency will allow me to live and work in one of the most dynamic regions of the world,” he said.
Eight Nebraska Wesleyan University students have won the Critical Language Scholarship in the past seven years.