AASU Creates New Scholarship for Russian and Eastern European Studies

Savannah, GA—Students can study abroad in Russia and Eastern Europe more affordably thanks to a scholarship that was newly formed at Armstrong Atlantic State University (AASU).

The Kaplan Study Abroad Scholarship for Russian and Eastern European Studies will be awarded annually to a deserving student majoring in political science, economics, or history. The university will award the scholarship each fall in the amount of $2,500. Currently, the university offers two study abroad programs in this region, at locations in St. Petersburg, Russia, and Tartu, Estonia. Optional full semester, Maymester, and summer programs are available. Applicants must complete 45 semester hours with a grade point average of 3.2 in the major, and an overall average of 3.2. Those selected will be required to give an oral presentation at the conclusion of their trip abroad.

The scholarship was created by Michael Kaplan, owner of the Midtown Deli in Chatham Plaza and former political science student at AASU. He funded the scholarship to make studying abroad in this region more financially feasible for students. As a student at Armstrong, Kaplan was the first to sign up for a yearlong study abroad program in Tartu, Estonia. His travel plans were canceled when the funding from financial aid and other local scholarships fell short by about $2,000. Kaplan says this experience was significant in his decision to support the international programs at AASU. He wanted to afford others the opportunity to study in the region without the financial pressures.

For more information about the scholarship, contact the Office of International Education at 912.921.5671. To make a donation to the scholarship fund, contact Michael Kaplan at 912.355.8717 or stop by Midtown Deli in Chatham Plaza.

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Kaplan was an intelligence analyst, with a focus on the study of Soviet special operations forces, for the U.S. Army 11th Special Forces Group. He also learned to speak the Russian language through his training at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA, and later at Ft. Bragg Language Institute in Fayetteville, NC. Kaplan now visits the region regularly, and is currently developing business ventures within the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Editor's Note: Michael Kaplan is available for interviews. Contact Michelle Gordon at 912.961.3173 to make arrangements for an interview.