South Carolina Political Science major Kathleen Sowder was recently awarded the Boren Scholarship. This award is funded by the National Security and Education Program (NSEP). Boren Scholars commit to long term overseas immersive language study and to public service. Students receive this award to further study languages and cultures that are critical to national security. In exchange, Boren Scholars agree to secure federal employment in an agency of their choice, using the skills they have learned as an undergraduate through NSEP. Under the African Flagship Language Initiative, Kathleen will be taking intensive French and Wolof courses to prepare for her spring semester in Senegal. During her time at South Carolina, she participated in research with Dr Brad Epperly and Dr Tobias Heinrich. Her thesis titled "Oversight and Limitations: the Torture Report” studies political accountability. It was supervised by Dr. Heinrich. This award is apart of Kathleen’s larger goal to continue examining the factors contributing to national security in francophone Africa.