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Darlington hosts two Thai Scholars
Sep 2, 2009 2:08 PM
By Tannika King - Faculty
Darlington senior Yutthana "Tom" Lakliang left his home in Thailand this fall to seek a better education in America. With a minimal knowledge of English, he faces a great challenge, but he says the opportunity outweighs his fears.
“The American education system is so different than in Thailand,” he said. “Here, there are so many ways to learn. There are specific majors; classes are smaller; and teachers have discussions so that every student can participate in class. It is very nice. I think Darlington is the best school for me.”
Lakliang is one of two Royal Thai Scholars attending Darlington School this year. He and fellow senior Poon Panichpibool are among only 50 national scholars selected by the Thai government in 2009.
“Each year, the Civil Service Commission of the Royal Thai government administers highly competitive, nationwide exams. The results of these tests determine who will be awarded the scholarships offered for that year,” explained Sam Moss (’63), dean of college guidance.
The majority of those selected are sponsored by a ministry or agency within the Thai government and supported through graduate school. For each year of education, they are expected to serve their sponsoring organization for two years, which can mean making a 25- to 30-year commitment to Thailand. Others may be selected to receive the Thaipat Scholarship, which allows a student to study whatever he or she wishes in the categories of science or the humanities. The category is determined at the time of selection, and the student is supported through graduate school. Upon completion, the scholar may apply for additional funding for a Ph.D. program. And while Thaipat Scholars are still expected to serve the Thai government for two years for each year of their education abroad, their service is not limited to a particular ministry or agency.
“The Thai government created this program to aid them in building human resources to help their country develop,” said John Rorke, executive director for the Global Development Studies Institute and former director of the Thai Scholars Orientation Program. “Many of the scholars become researchers in a field appropriate for their sponsor. Of course, many also become university professors because the government wants a spread effect for their investment. It’s a great opportunity to obtain a world-class education, especially for those families that could not afford it otherwise.”
Darlington has been a destination school for Thai Scholars since 1992, according to Moss. “There are only 42 schools in the country that the government has selected to get these 50 kids, including very prestigious institutions like Phillips Andover, Choate Rosemary Hall, Phillips Exeter Academy and Deerfield Academy,” he added. “Besides Darlington, there are only three other schools in the South that get them at all, and those are Asheville School, Episcopal High School and St. Stevens Episcopal School.”
Darlington’s Thai Scholars have attended a wide variety of institutions in the United States and Canada, including Carnegie-Mellon University, Columbia University, Cornell University, McGill University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the University of British Columbia, the University of California, the University of Chicago, the University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign, the University of Toronto, the University of Virginia, the University of Western Ontario and Virginia Military Institute.
For now, Lakliang and Panichpibool are not certain what colleges they will attend next year, but they will soon begin the application process.
“I am going to major in chemistry,” Lakliang said. “It was my dream to study abroad so that I can become a scientist and help develop my home country, Thailand. This is the first step to begin reaching my dream.”
Panichpibool will study astronomy and astrophysics. "When I graduate with my doctoral degree, I will be a professor at a university in Thailand," he said. "Preparing to be student in an American college is exciting because I have never experienced this process before. I am really excited about SAT exam, the TOEFL and completing my college applications!"
“The American education system is so different than in Thailand,” he said. “Here, there are so many ways to learn. There are specific majors; classes are smaller; and teachers have discussions so that every student can participate in class. It is very nice. I think Darlington is the best school for me.”
Lakliang is one of two Royal Thai Scholars attending Darlington School this year. He and fellow senior Poon Panichpibool are among only 50 national scholars selected by the Thai government in 2009.
“Each year, the Civil Service Commission of the Royal Thai government administers highly competitive, nationwide exams. The results of these tests determine who will be awarded the scholarships offered for that year,” explained Sam Moss (’63), dean of college guidance.
The majority of those selected are sponsored by a ministry or agency within the Thai government and supported through graduate school. For each year of education, they are expected to serve their sponsoring organization for two years, which can mean making a 25- to 30-year commitment to Thailand. Others may be selected to receive the Thaipat Scholarship, which allows a student to study whatever he or she wishes in the categories of science or the humanities. The category is determined at the time of selection, and the student is supported through graduate school. Upon completion, the scholar may apply for additional funding for a Ph.D. program. And while Thaipat Scholars are still expected to serve the Thai government for two years for each year of their education abroad, their service is not limited to a particular ministry or agency.
“The Thai government created this program to aid them in building human resources to help their country develop,” said John Rorke, executive director for the Global Development Studies Institute and former director of the Thai Scholars Orientation Program. “Many of the scholars become researchers in a field appropriate for their sponsor. Of course, many also become university professors because the government wants a spread effect for their investment. It’s a great opportunity to obtain a world-class education, especially for those families that could not afford it otherwise.”
Darlington has been a destination school for Thai Scholars since 1992, according to Moss. “There are only 42 schools in the country that the government has selected to get these 50 kids, including very prestigious institutions like Phillips Andover, Choate Rosemary Hall, Phillips Exeter Academy and Deerfield Academy,” he added. “Besides Darlington, there are only three other schools in the South that get them at all, and those are Asheville School, Episcopal High School and St. Stevens Episcopal School.”
Darlington’s Thai Scholars have attended a wide variety of institutions in the United States and Canada, including Carnegie-Mellon University, Columbia University, Cornell University, McGill University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the University of British Columbia, the University of California, the University of Chicago, the University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign, the University of Toronto, the University of Virginia, the University of Western Ontario and Virginia Military Institute.
For now, Lakliang and Panichpibool are not certain what colleges they will attend next year, but they will soon begin the application process.
“I am going to major in chemistry,” Lakliang said. “It was my dream to study abroad so that I can become a scientist and help develop my home country, Thailand. This is the first step to begin reaching my dream.”
Panichpibool will study astronomy and astrophysics. "When I graduate with my doctoral degree, I will be a professor at a university in Thailand," he said. "Preparing to be student in an American college is exciting because I have never experienced this process before. I am really excited about SAT exam, the TOEFL and completing my college applications!"
