Arab American Club of Knoxville (AACK) Travel Scholarship: Eligible applicants include UT undergraduate and graduate students seeking to do study abroad, archeological digs, language study, internships, independent research, or other similar academic overseas travel in Arabic-speaking countries in summer 2025 or the 2025-26 academic year. Award amount is around $2000 for two scholarships.

Elain A. Evans Middle East Studies Scholarship: Eligible applicants include undergraduate students in a major in the College of Arts and Sciences with a program of study focusing on historical or contemporary aspects of the languages, cultures, or societies of the Middle East. Preference will be given for students wanting to use the monies as a travel scholarship to do study abroad or other overseas academic work in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Award amount is between $500 and $2000, depending on availability. Last year year’s award was $2000.

 Note: If you are an undergraduate student, you do not need to be a Middle East Studies major/minor to receive either of these scholarships. But should you receive the award, we will ask you to speak with an academic advisor to consider declaring a Middle East Studies major/minor, if your course schedule allows it.  

 Please submit the following materials to Professor Matt Buehler, Chair of Middle East Studies (mbuehle2@utk.edu) by February 1 2025. Please combine all documents into one pdf file, so it is easy for the selection committee to review.

 Resume/CV of academic training/work experience.

1. A full unofficial academic transcript that lists your GPA and completed courses.
2. A 1-page, double-spaced statement that addresses why you feel fit to receive the scholarship and your plans for using its funding. Please make sure to clearly identify whether you are applying for the AACK Travel Scholarship or the Elain A. Evans Scholarship, or both scholarships. Note that the AACK Scholarship can only be used for academic overseas travel in Arabic-speaking countries. In your essay for these travel scholarships, please be about clear what you plan to do with the travel scholarship, where you plan to go, and your academic aims/objectives during this period.