Hoang Manh Quan, a student at Tuyen Quang Specialized High School, received the prestigious Freeman Asian Scholarship in March, becoming one of only 11 recipients awarded annually. The scholarship fully covers his tuition and living expenses at Wesleyan, which is ranked among the top 14 liberal arts colleges in the U.S. by U.S. News & World Report.
“I was so happy I completely forgot about my injured leg. I immediately jumped off my bed to find my dad and share the amazing news,” Quan recalled. “I never expected to achieve such a significant scholarship.”
Quan, who scored an impressive IELTS 8.5 and won multiple English competitions, initially hesitated about studying abroad. It was not until the end of 11th grade that he began researching scholarship opportunities online. With support from a study-abroad agency, he applied to 23 U.S. universities and several institutions across Singapore, Hong Kong and Germany.
During the application process, Quan managed to balance his academic workload, including preparing for provincial and national-level English competitions, with completing applications and writing essays at night.
Quan’s standout essay for Wesleyan University highlighted his transformative experience organizing a Model United Nations (MUN) event and creating an AI-powered tour guide for his hometown, Tuyen Quang.
“I wanted to demonstrate the determination of a student who continuously seeks opportunities to positively impact his community,” he said.
Quan was instrumental in introducing the Model United Nations concept to his school, inspired by his classmates’ growing interest in global affairs. But it was his AI innovation that caught significant attention. In 10th grade, Quan and his team designed a system comprising a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) transmitter and a smartphone application. When tourists approach certain landmarks, the device automatically provides informative audio content in multiple languages, including Vietnamese, English, and Chinese.
To deploy this solution, Quan obtained approval from local authorities, spending months gathering necessary data and documentation. A successful two-week trial at the Tan Trao historical site garnered positive feedback and earned Quan’s team the top prize at a provincial science competition.
Quan meticulously refined his scholarship essay, cutting down from around 1,000 words to meet the required 650-word limit. After 10 revisions, the final draft helped him advance to the interview round. In his interview, Quan emphasized Wesleyan’s open curriculum and small class sizes as significant factors in his decision.
“The interview felt more like a genuine conversation,” Quan said, adding that it was an opportunity for the school to learn about their candidates.
Nguyen Thi Thu Huyen, Quan’s homeroom teacher, praised his remarkable achievement, highlighting his intelligence, ambition and resilience. “Quan excels particularly in English and technology,” she said.
Quan will head to the United States this August, planning to pursue dual majors in Computer Science and Social Studies.
“I aim to continue earning scholarships to further my education,” Quan concluded confidently.
Subsidiary of VnExpress
License number: 71/GP-CBC, Ministry of Information and
Communications, September 22, 2021
Editor-in-Chief: Pham Van Hieu
Email: evne@vnexpress.netTel: 028 7300 9999 – Ext 8556
FPT Tower, 10 Pham Van Bach Street, Dich Vong Ward, Cau Giay District, Hanoi, Vietnam
© Copyright 1997 VnExpress.net. All rights reserved.
