A record-breaking 18 undergraduates at the University of Georgia were named Boren Scholars this spring, landing UGA at No. 1 among top-performing institutions for Boren Awards, which takes into account a university’s total number of Boren Scholars and Fellows.
This year also marks the sixth year in a row that UGA has been named a top-performing institution for Boren Scholarships. UGA has had 130 Boren Scholarship and Fellowship offers to date.
The UGA undergraduates will receive funding to study critical languages in countries such as Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Brazil in exchange for a year of federal service.
“Having 18 students receive Boren offers is a huge accomplishment in and of itself, and being named the top-performing institution for Boren Awards reflects the university’s long-standing commitment to language study,” said Meg Amstutz, dean of the Morehead Honors College, which houses UGA’s Major Scholarships Office. “Our students are preparing to serve locally, nationally and internationally, and we are proud to give them a strong foundation during their time at UGA.”
Boren’s national nominating panel awarded 193 Boren Scholarships to undergraduate students and 97 Boren Fellowships to graduate students. The award is designed to add important international and language components to students’ educations by giving them the opportunity to study overseas in world regions critical to U.S. interests. Boren Award recipients commit to working in the federal government for at least one year after graduation in exchange for up to $25,000 in funding. The national initiative is administered by the Institute of International Education on behalf of the National Security Education Program.
“Being named first among top-performing institutions is such an honor and is a testament to the strength of UGA’s outstanding language flagship programs,” said Elizabeth Hughes, Boren Awards campus representative and a student affairs professional in the Morehead Honors College. “A vital part of our students’ success is the guidance they receive from faculty and staff across campus, and we are thankful for their support.”
The language flagship programs provide undergraduates with the opportunity to pursue professional-level language proficiency in one of six critical languages. Programs are led by nationally recognized leaders and innovators in language education.
The following students were awarded Boren Scholarships to support their studies of Arabic in Morocco and Persian in Tajikistan.
Grey Cohen of Atlanta is a fourth-year Honors student majoring in international affairs with minors in Arabic and international human rights and security. She was awarded a Boren Scholarship to study Arabic in Morocco.
Uma Miskinyar of Orange County, California, is a third-year student majoring in international affairs with a certificate in geographic information science. She was awarded a Boren Scholarship to study Persian in Tajikistan.
The following eight students were awarded Boren Scholarships to support their participation in a capstone year program to study Russian and complete an internship in Kazakhstan.
Merrielle Gatlin of Fayetteville is a fourth-year student majoring in Russian and journalism.
Christopher Haswell of Woodstock is a fourth-year Honors student majoring in Russian, international affairs and political science.
Bryce Knoll of North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is a third-year Honors student and Foundation Fellow majoring in Russian, linguistics and Spanish.
Adanna Majekodunmi of Atlanta is a fourth-year student majoring in Russian and international affairs.
Skye Palmer of St. Marys is a third-year student majoring in Russian and international affairs.
Bridget Peach of Dallas, Texas, is a fourth-year Honors student majoring in Russian and international affairs with a minor in Spanish.
Zane Sylvester of Auburn is a third-year Honors student majoring in Russian and mathematics with a minor in linguistics.
Julia Wickman of Cumming is a fourth-year student majoring in Russian and international affairs.
The following eight students were awarded Boren Scholarships to support their participation in a capstone year program to study Portuguese and complete an internship in Brazil.
Madison Akin of Carrollton is a second-year student majoring in Latin American and Caribbean studies and Romance languages with a concentration in Portuguese and Brazilian studies and a minor in Portuguese.
Nolan Bell of Jefferson is a second-year student majoring in Romance languages and international affairs.
Elsie Damato of Raleigh, North Carolina, is a second-year student majoring in political science and Romance languages with a concentration in Portuguese and Brazilian studies.
Katie Hunt of Kennesaw is a second-year student majoring in international affairs and Romance languages with a concentration in Portuguese and Brazilian studies and a minor in political science.
Sarah “Kate” McDonough of Mableton is a second-year student majoring in Spanish and Romance languages.
Jada Monroe of Suwanee is a second-year Honors student majoring in Romance languages and cognitive science with minors in Portuguese, Spanish and computer science.
Isabella Varricchio of Trenton is a second-year student majoring in accounting and Romance languages with a concentration in Portuguese and Brazilian studies and a minor in law, ethics and philosophy.
Lucia Vitulo of Peachtree City is a third-year Honors student majoring in political science with a minor in Portuguese.