UA student receives Confucius Institute Henan Scholarship to study abroad

University of Akron student Shannon Anicas was not sure about returning to school at her age. If she had let her age affect her decision she would not have been the lucky recipient of the UA Confucius Institute Henan Scholarship, an award to study in China for a full year.

At age 40, Anicas is entering her senior year at UA and pursuing an interdisciplinary arts and science degree with emphases on communication, business and Chinese culture. She says she hopes to improve others' understanding of Chinese culture, whether in a corporate or educational setting.

Anicas says she developed a natural curiosity and growing interest about Chinese culture and language since beginning her college studies. Tackling Chinese has been a challenge, Anicas admits. "But with hard work and great teachers anything is truly possible. I mean, after all, who would have thought at 40, I would be going to study abroad?"

Anicas complements her education by assisting with UA Confucius Institute activities and serving as vice president of the Chinese Cultural Society. She has even taught high school students about Chinese pop culture.

Anicas leaves this month for China where she will spend a year immersed in reading, writing and speaking Chinese at UA's sister school for Chinese programs, Henan University.

About the Confucius Institute

The University of Akron's Confucius Institute is a cooperative project of The University of Akron, the National Office of Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language, Chinese Ministry of Education and Henan University in Kaifeng, China. The ConfuciusInstitute promotes the expansion of Chinese language through a range of educational and outreach activities.

For more information, please visit www.uakron.edu/ci or call 330-972-2013.

Media contacts: Andrea Ehasz, ace17@zips.uakron.edu, or Denise Henry, 330-972-6477 or henryd@uakron.edu.