VCU 2025 Critical Language Scholarship Semifinalists
Six VCU students and alumni have advanced in the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) competition, four for the CLS summer study abroad program and two for the CLS Spark program, a virtual intensive program. These candidates will advance to the final round and will be notified of their final status in March.
The Critical Language Scholarship is a highly competitive scholarship funded by the U.S. Department of State for the study of fifteen languages deemed critical to the United States’ diplomatic and national security interests. Recipients will spend the summer intensively studying their target language, either abroad or virtually.
VCU’s six CLS semifinalists are are listed below:
- Vishnu Alavala, who will graduate in 2025 with a bachelor’s in biology from the College of Humanities and Sciences, applied to study Hindi.
- Riya Bajpai, who will graduate in 2028 with a bachelor’s in psychology and a bachelor’s in mathematical sciences from the College of Humanities and Sciences, applied to study Mandarin.
- Alexander Cigularov, who will graduate in 2028 with a doctor of medicine from the VCU School of Medicine, applied to study Portuguese.
- Daniel Eom, who will graduate in 2027 with a bachelor’s in chemistry from the College of Humanities and Sciences, applied to study Korean.
- Helen Mun, who will graduate in 2025 with a bachelor’s in biology from the College of Humanities and Sciences, applied to study Korean.
- Savannah Morris, who will graduate in 2026 with a bachelor’s in political science from the College of Humanities and Sciences, applied to study Korean.
VCU’s National Scholarship Office (NSO) assists students and recent alumni with the application process for the Critical Language Scholarship and other esteemed awards.
To learn more about external funding opportunities, schedule an appointment with a member of the NSO staff.
Categories Critical Language Scholarship