Lawrence Scholarships

Libby Nemitz was awarded the Lawrence Scholarship in Spring 2025. She is double majoring in Global Studies and Asian and Middle Eastern Studies with a concentration in Chinese Studies. She is also completing a minor in Political Science. Libby is interning at Pacific Atrocities Education (PAE), a history education organization dedicated to increasing awareness about atrocities that occurred in the Asia-Pacific theater during World War II. Pacific Atrocities Education uses archival materials to create public history projects that shed light on the untold stories of those who were impacted during WWII, allowing victims and victims’ families to reconcile their pain and find closure. Libby will be working to compile and research topics related to the Pacific-Asian War. Libby's specific responsibilities include researching primary and secondary sources related to World War II.

Nadwa Hussein was awarded the Lawrence Scholarship in Summer 2024. She is majoring in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies with a concentration in Middle Eastern Studies. Nadwa is interning at Mizna for the summer. Mizna is a contemporary arts organization that promotes Arab and SWANA art, literature, and film. As an intern, Nadwa will be assisting with general programing and administration. She will be given the opportunity to gain more skills in nonprofit work and engage with important aspects of running nonprofit art organizations that can often go unnoticed. Some examples of tasks that Nadwa will be in charge of completing are searching for sponsorship and funding from local businesses and organizations for the Twin Cities Arab Film Festival, researching and assisting in the distribution of the Mizna Journal, and administrative duties which include organizing and maintaining office systems including donor databases.

Kiley Vlasak was awarded the Lawrence Scholarship in Spring 2024. She is double majoring in Anthropology and Psychology and double minoring in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies and Computer Science.  Kiley is interning as a Historic Preservation Intern for the U.S. Fisheries and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Kiley is working to digitize files related to archaeological surveys and heritage assets within Region 3 (i.e. the midwest region of the USFWS). Kiley wrote that "My coursework in Chinese language and cultures throughout the years has provided me with a solid foundation to appreciate the work being done in cultural preservation."

Manasi Nagargoje was awarded the Lawrence Scholarship in Spring 2024. She is majoring in Global Studies with a concentration in Human Rights and Justice, and is minoring in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. Manasi is starting her International Justice Program (IJ) Internship at The Advocates for Human Rights. As a member of the World Coalition against the Death Penalty and an organization with Special Consultative Status at the United Nations (UN), The Advocates for Human Rights is a leader within Minnesota’s human rights community and has been the driving force behind many prestigious activism efforts in the Twin Cities and beyond. Some of Manasi's internship responsibilities include researching and developing documents that report the status of present day challenges and making recommendations for how countries around the world can actualize human rights. 

Tara Peterson was awarded the Lawrence Scholarship in Spring 2023. She is an Asian and Middle Eastern Studies major with an emphasis in Japanese Studies. Tara is interning at Kennedy High School in two of the Japanese language classes. She tutors students in Japanese, as well as leads fun activities like Japanese calligraphy. Thanks to her internship experience, she is considering a career in education. 

Shannon Chambers was awarded the Lawrence Scholarship in Summer 2022. She is a History major with a minor in AMES: Chinese Studies. Shannon is interning as a Chinese language tutor for 1st year, 2nd year, and Pre-AP learners at DeLaSalle High School, where she will help design and organize a film festival for Chinese language students.

Thomas Fabian was awarded the Lawrence Scholarship in Summer 2022. He is working towards earning a double major in Mathematics and AMES: Chinese Studies. Thomas’ internship is at DeLaSalle High School, where he will design learning activities leading toward a Chinese film festival in addition to organizing interviews and cultural performances.

Jennifer Chen was awarded the Lawrence scholarship in Spring 2022. She is majoring in Political Science and Asian and Middle Eastern Studies with a focus in Chinese. She is interning with the Hoglund Law Office as a bankruptcy intern. After graduation, she intends to attend law school with the goal of becoming an immigration or justice lawyer.

Lisa Lilyerd won a Lawrence Scholarship in Experiential Learning in Fall 2021. After graduating with a BA in Music with a minor in Korean Studies, Lisa intends to teach English in Korea. This Lawrence Scholarship will fund an internship at the Korean American Association of Minnesota, where Lisa will teach Korean to Korean American students.

Meg Hellerud won a Lawrence Scholarship in Experiential Learning for Fall 2021.  She is majoring in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies with a focus in Chinese and is also Pre-Law. This scholarship will fund her internship at the Legal Rights Center. Their primary mission is to work with our communities to seek justice and promote racial equity for those to whom it has been historically denied. They do this by means of criminal defense, restorative justice, advocacy, and community education. 

Casey Chang won a Lawrence Scholarship in Experiential Learning in Spring 2021. He is majoring in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies with a focus in Japanese. Casey has an internship at CRCC Asia, an organization that was founded in 2006 to provide opportunities for students and young professionals fresh out of college to gain work experience in various intercultural environments. Interning in Tokyo will allow him to gain direct work experience and connections in Japan as well as an opportunity to secure further employment.

Andy Columbus was awarded a Lawrence Scholarship in Experiential Learning in Fall 2020. He is majoring in Economics with minors in Management and Chinese. Andy has an internship at the Literacy Matters Foundation, a non-profit organization helping K-3 students in need of reading and writing assistance.

Ashley Agwatu was awarded the Lawrence scholarship in Fall 2020. She is a senior Global Studies major with a minor in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. She is interning with the Metro South Adult Basic Education as a teacher's assistant in one of their online English as a second language (ESL) classes. After graduation, she intends to pursue a career in teaching English abroad.