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Gunawansa ’14 Wins Luce Scholarship

Nicole Gunawansa, a senior at Washington and Lee University, has won a Luce Scholarship that will enable her to spend 10 months living and working in Asia.

Gunawansa, of Portsmouth, Va., is a neuroscience major. She has previously received a Johnson Opportunity Grant from W&L that allowed her to serve in Ghana as a summer intern, teaching English to schoolchildren and working in a medical clinic. She also has spent terms abroad in Japan and Denmark.

At W&L, Gunawansa is involved in the Bonner Scholar Program, the Campus Kitchen and the Student Association for International Learning (SAIL). She performs with the University Chamber Singers and belongs to Omicron Delta Kappa, the national leadership honor society and Phi Beta Kappa, the academic honor society.

The Henry Luce Foundation started the Luce Scholars Program in 1974. The nationally competitive program aims to enhance the understanding of Asia among potential leaders in American society. It stands out from other such exchanges in that it is intended for young leaders who have had limited experience in Asia and who might not otherwise have an opportunity in the course of their careers to spend time there.