Orie Lindler and Genevieve Robinson have earned Boren Scholarships for the 2026 – 2027 academic year. The Boren Scholarship funds the long-term, intensive study of less commonly taught languages that are crucial for United States national security. Participants also engage with their host country’s community and build cultural competency skills.
A Defense Language and National Security Education Office initiative, the Boren Scholarship opens 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 $12,500 for a semester of study or $25,000 for a year-long program. Awards are also available to STEM majors for summer study. Boren Scholarships are a gateway to a federal service career: Upon graduation, Boren alumni work for a federal agency for at least a year.
Orie Lindler is a senior international business and management major. The Capstone Scholar will use funding from the Boren Scholarship to study Swahili in Tanzania for a year. Lindler is already an accomplished speaker of Spanish and Portuguese, earning the South Carolina Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish and the 2026 Portuguese Student of the Year distinction. He hopes to leverage his language skills through work that involves improving transportation and infrastructure.
Senior Honors College student and McNair Scholar Genevieve Robinson will spend a year studying Russian in Kazakhstan and living with a host family. The psychology, Russian and cyber policy and ethics triple major has impacted the USC community by working as a peer writing and communications tutor at the Student Success Center, DJing for WUSC-FM and serving on the Scholars United Enrichment Team. Upon returning from Kazakhstan, Robinson plans to utilize her language skills as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Air Force.
In addition to support from national fellowships advisors, USC’s Boren candidates can gain insight from a faculty committee. For the 2025 – 2026 academic year, professor David Hudgens, professor Olesya Kisselev and professor Matthew Melvin-Koushki served on the committee.
National Fellowships provides support for Boren Scholarship applicants. Students interested in learning more should contact USC’s National Fellowships team.