VCU Student Caroline Butler Receives Boren Award

May 10, 2016 by natlscholar

VCU Student Receives Boren Award
May 2016

VCU student Caroline Butler, from Virginia Beach, Virginia, has received a Boren Scholarship through the African Flagship Languages Initiative (AFLI). The AFLI offers Boren Scholarship applicants the opportunity to study African languages and cultures by participating in domestic and overseas language programs.

With the support of the Boren Scholarship, Caroline will be living in Dakar, Senegal for the 2016-2017 academic year while attending the Senegal Language Experience Center. Her course load will include intensive study of both Wolof and French.

Caroline was initially drawn to this opportunity because of her previous experience studying abroad: “After spending a semester in Dakar in 2014, I have been trying to find a way to go back. [The NSO] advised me to apply for the Boren and I am so happy that I did!”

Caroline is in her final academic year with VCU, pursuing an International Studies degree, with a concentration in social justice and minors in French and anthropology.

“I started taking a language sophomore year at VCU (French). After living in a Francophone country, I found that the best way to improve was to be amongst native speakers. Through Boren, I will be completely immersed in both French and Wolof for an entire year,” Caroline said.

Upon her completion of the program she will pursue her law degree with a focus on international law and diplomacy or human rights law.

When asked about advice she has for future applicants, Caroline urged to “apply to as many opportunities as you can. With hard work and persistence someone is bound to give you a shot. Get used to hearing ‘no’ and remember that with each ‘no’ a greater opportunity. Before receiving the Boren, I had been rejected many, many times. There are many paths out there!”

Boren Scholarships, an initiative of the National Security Education Program, provide unique funding opportunities for U.S. undergraduate students to study less commonly taught languages in world regions critical to U.S. national security interests, including Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East.

Caroline and her fellow applicants worked with the National Scholarship Office (NSO) at Virginia Commonwealth University to apply for the Boren Award. The NSO works with VCU alumni, graduate students, and undergraduates who wish to compete for prestigious national and international scholarships, such as the Boren Scholarship or Fellowship. If you are interested in applying for the Boren Scholarship or Fellowship or other nationally or internationally competitive scholarships, please contact the NSO at natlscholar@vcu.edu or (804) 828-6868.