A scholar speaks at a podium in an auditorium.

Vivian Deng ’24 is a computer science major minoring in business administration. (Photo courtesy Vivian)

Vivian Deng ’24 of Chapel Hill has been named a Phillips Ambassador to pursue an internship at the BSI Innovation Lab in Singapore this summer.

The Phillips Ambassadors Program through the Carolina Asia Center includes a $6,000 scholarship, networking opportunities, and a seminar on global studies. Five Carolina students were selected for the summer 2022 cohort.

Vivian said the internship, facilitated by UNC Kenan-Flagler, will help advance her interests in business and STEM. BSI Innovation Lab, which opened in January 2022, partners with startups to co-develop and adopt new technologies for businesses.

“I’ve been wanting to study abroad ever since I came to college, and Singapore has everything I could’ve wanted in a study abroad program: a multicultural experience, beautiful landscapes, and the chance to study computer science in an innovative and technologically advanced country,” said the scholar, a computer science major minoring in business administration. “I’m excited to bring what I learn in Singapore back to Chapel Hill.”

Vivian will be working in Singapore through July. All ambassadors must complete a self-designed “Give Back” project upon the conclusion of their program to share with their hometown or campus community their experiences and knowledge gained.

At Carolina, Vivian is a teaching assistant for an introductory computer programming course. She’s also involved in CS+Social Good, an organization that seeks to maximize the benefits of technology while mitigating harm, and the Flying Silk Dance Troupe, the only student-run Chinese traditional dance group on campus.

A scholar shakes hands with a woman in front of an auditorium stage.

Vivian with Kimberly Phillips, the co-founder of the Phillips Ambassadors Program, at the award ceremony in April 2022. (Photo courtesy Vivian)

About Phillips Ambassadors

Founded in 2007, the Phillips Ambassadors Program provides flexible scholarships for undergraduate study abroad opportunities in Asia. There have been more than 350 Phillips Ambassadors to date.

The application to be selected for the next cohort of Phillips Ambassadors closes August 1. Through an initiative announced this month, the program will also fund eligible first-year and transfer students to apply for their first U.S. passport.

Published Date

June 27, 2022

Categories

International, Study Abroad, Tech

Article Type

News, Scholar Stories