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Josh Shepherd, an alumnus of the University of North Georgia (Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û), sought out schools with strong programs. He found his answer when he learned Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û's language programs are among the best in the Southeast.

Shepherd, who is studied Chinese and finance, chose Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û because of the Chinese language program and received a Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) to study in China during summer 2019.

He said the reputation of Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û's Mike Cottrell College of Business also impacted his decision to attend Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û.

"I want to work in business, hopefully in China,so Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û having two really good programs that I wanted to be a part of made my decision much easier," Shepherd said.

Shepherd found an influential and welcoming campus community that afforded him multiple leadership opportunities. He was involved with the Student Government Association for three years and active in Nighthawks Entertainment for three years, while maintaining the HOPE Scholarship and a 3.8 GPA. He also served as president of Nighthawks Entertainment during the 2019-20 academic year.

"Being involved on campus has allowed me to make a community and be a part of a community," Shepherd said. "It helped me realize just how approachable the staff and faculty are. If I have a problem with student government, 90 percent of the faculty and staff will offer to help me. Even from those that don't know me, it's always, 'You have this problem and we're going to help you fix it.'"

An overseas language and cultural immersion program, the CLS program fully funds American students enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities who aspire to better their language skills and gain experience with native speakers.

The graduate from Dahlonega, Georgia, said he was shocked when he learned he received the scholarship.

"I was very surprised. This scholarship is so hard to get," Shepherd said. "But I'm so excited! I went to Taiwan last summer and CLS will give me the opportunity to immerse myself into the Chinese culture the same way."

The nationally competitive CLS program encourages the study of numerous languages, and accepts students with different levels of proficiency from beginning to advanced. Shepherd has expanded his knowledge of Chinese language and culture through the university's Chinese Language Flagship, which will include a final, capstone year in China.

"The Flagship program has helped push my proficiency further than anything else," Shepherd said. "These programs have been so helpful in getting me to that level of proficiency I would need to be able to conduct business with native Chinese speakers."

Shepherd also credited Dr. Victoria Hightower, associate professor of history at Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û, and Dr. Anastasia Lin, assistant vice president of research and engagement, for his success in earning the CLS.

"Dr. Hightower helped me do eight drafts for one of my scholarship essays, but both of these women helped me out tremendously," Shepherd said. "They ripped my essays apart, which sounds harsh, but it helped so much. They would bring up ideas and fix the small things I would never think of."

Hightower said she loves when students win scholarships.

"CLS is one of the most unpredictable scholarships with 5,600 students applying for it this year. These complex applications go through two blind readings and then a committee review," Hightower said. "Josh was successful because he put his personality on the page."

She also attributed Shepherd's success to his perspective of the world.

"Josh's unique outlook on life serves him well," Hightower said. "He loves everything and he's very positive and self-reflective, which is something we try to push all of students to be. He has this general sunniness about him. If you've met Josh, you know he just vibrates with energy, and that has really helped him achieve his goals."