Give a Gift, Support BGSU Students
The Department of World Languages and Cultures extends our sincere thanks to the many individuals who generously support our students through targeted giving. Your donations help us assist undergraduate majors and minors in our department and related fields in achieving their educational goals and gaining experiential opportunities, such as study abroad. Gifts of any size are most welcome and gratefully received.
Selected funds
For more than four decades, Akiko Kawano Jones was a deeply engaged member of the GREAL/World Languages & Cultures Department. She began teaching Japanese at BGSU in 1983 and demonstrated a strong devotion to her students.
She was granted Emeritus status in 2021 but remained involved with students, BGSU, and the community up until her death in June 2026. In addition to bringing Japanese culture to Bowling Green, Akiko was generous in ensuring learning opportunities were available to as many as possible. She established the Akiko Kawano Jones Japanese Study Abroad Scholarship in 2014.
Akiko believed her work was about more than teaching a language; she wanted to immerse her students, colleagues, and the public in an entire culture. She founded and advised the BGSU Japanese Club until her passing in 2026. Akiko also started the Cherry Blossom Festival for students, faculty, staff and the public, which marked its 25th year in 2026; and led Nakama, an outreach program for Japanese and American businesses in Ohio and Michigan, which celebrated its 59th business dinner and meeting in Spring 2026.
This scholarship was established by Charles E. and Bernice R. Shanklin in 1989 in memory of their daughter, Janet. This scholarship is awarded to students participating in BGSU’s study abroad in Spain for an academic year or for a summer.
This scholarship supports students who pursue studies in French at the minor or major level and/or who participate in a French-language study abroad program.
This scholarship supports students accepted into the BGSU Salzburg, Austria, study abroad program, with preference for those who choose to study for a full year abroad.
This scholarship was created by Darrell W. and Sally M. Foell to honor his mother, Margaret Kaesemann Foell, and provides support for students participating in the BGSU Salzburg, Austria, study abroad program for a semester or academic year.
This renewable scholarship recognizes students who demonstrate a commitment to studying advanced levels of French language and literature.
This scholarship was established to support students studying in the BGSU Salzburg, Austria, study abroad program for one or two semesters.
This scholarship was established to recognize the scholastic achievement and dedication of French language students who are pursuing French at the minor or major level.
This scholarship was established to support students who wish to participate in a study abroad program in Salzburg, Austria, with preference given to students studying German language.
This scholarship was established to provide support for study abroad in Salzburg, Austria, with preference given to students considering a career in world language education and/or who are current teachers.
This fund is designed to support students who study abroad in a program promoted by the BGSU Department of World Languages and Cultures.
This fund is designed to support the work of the BGSU Department of World Languages and Cultures.
Updated: 08/21/2026 02:57PM