Caroline Lochner and Claire Mattes have earned Boren Scholarships for the 2024-2025 academic year. Sponsored by the Department of Defense, the Boren
Scholarship funds long-term, intensive study of less commonly taught languages that
are crucial for U.S. national security. Participants also engage with their host country’s
community, deepening their cultural knowledge.
Why it matters
Boren Scholarships open doors to languages outside of Western Europe that are not
often available for study at U.S. universities. Recipients can choose from over 60
languages, receiving up to $12,500 for a semester of study or up to $25,000 for a
year-long program. Awards are also available to STEM majors for summer study.
The perfect start
Prior knowledge of the chosen language is not required, making Boren an ideal opportunity
for novices who are eager to embrace a language-learning opportunity. Proficient speakers
can also benefit from long-term immersion in a country where their target language
is spoken. Additionally, Boren Scholarships are a gateway to a federal service career:
upon graduation, Boren alumni work for a federal agency for at least a year.
Who they are
First-year Honors student Caroline Lochner is a public health major. She will travel to Jordan and spend a semester studying
Arabic, specifically the Amiya dialect. Lochner discovered her passion for Arabic
while studying in Morocco through the Kenedy Lugar YES Abroad Scholarship. Through
Boren, she looks forward to deepening her understanding of the Middle East region
and exploring her intersecting interests in medicine and the Arabic language. This
opportunity is an important step along her path to becoming a doctor and developmental
healthcare officer for USAID’s Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance.
Claire Mattes is a senior Capstone student majoring in international studies. Mattes will participate
in Boren’s African Flagship Languages Initiative (AFLI) to study Wolof. Her program
will begin in Washington, D.C., in May, and she will start learning Wolof at the University
of Florida this summer. In the fall, she will travel to Dakar, Senegal, to begin the
ACIBaobab Language Program. At USC, Mattes serves as the co-executive producer of
the Seeking Refuge podcast, which tells the stories of refugees from around the world. She hopes to
use the language skills she develops as a Boren Scholar to continue advocating for
refugees in sub-Saharan and West Africa.
In addition to support from national fellowships advisors, USC’s Boren candidates
can gain insight from a faculty committee. For the 2023 – 2024 academic year, Dr.
David Hudgens, Morgan Inabinet, Dr. Judy Kalb, Dr. Matthew Melvin-Koushki and Dr.
Magdalena Stawkowski served on the committee.
National Fellowships and Scholar Programs provides support for Boren Scholarship applicants. Students interested in learning
more should contact USC’s national fellowships team.
