UF Students Awarded Prestigious Overseas Experience

May 20, 2024
UF is named a Top-Performing Institution for Boren Scholars.

All nine University of Florida students who applied for the 2024 Boren Awards were successful, with six awardees and three alternates. Their achievement earned UF recognition as a Top-Performing Institution for Boren Scholars this year, ranking 5th.

The Boren Awards allow students to participate in immersive language programs within the U.S. and overseas. The prestigious award focuses on fields of study critical to U.S. national security. After completing the long-term study abroad program and graduating from university, Boren Scholars and Fellows work for the U.S. federal government for one year as part of their award commitment.

New to Boren's lineup of Regional Flagship Language Initiatives is the Southeast Asia Flagship Initiative (SEAFLI). It allows applicants to study in Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Nehemie Cyriaque will have the honor of experiencing this program firsthand in its inaugural year, traveling to Vietnam in the fall of this year.

"[SEAFLI] seems like such a carefully curated program that encompasses all aspects of cultural immersion, from being provided the opportunity to live in a homestay, engaging in cultural activities like pencak silat martial arts, and meeting with local language partners," says Cyriaque. "I think this is a fantastic opportunity to delve into [Vietnamese] culture and explore the complexity of the culture and people."

Meet UF's 2024 Boren Recipients:

• Cody Case, '25, is a Boren Fellow Alternate and Ph.D. candidate in Ethnomusicology who hopes to study Portuguese in Brazil.
• Nehemie Cyriaque, '24, is an International Food and Resource Economics major who will study Vietnamese in Vietnam.
• Caroline Davis, '24, is a double major in Business and Sustainability Studies with a minor in Spanish. She will study Swahili in the United Republic of Tanzania.
• Amie Edwards, '25, is a Boren Fellow Alternate and a Ph.D. candidate in Architecture who hopes to study in Akan in Ghana.
• Zoe Golomb, '24, is a Boren Scholar Alternate and double major in History and International Studies. She hopes to study Turkish in Azerbaijan.
• Charles Horowitz, '24, is a Political Science major who will study Turkish in Azerbaijan.
• Elizabeth Kemp, '25, is a Linguistics major with a minor in Business. She will learn Russian in Armenia.
• Mikhail Mikhaylov, '24, is a double major in International Studies and Economics with a minor in Public Health. He will study Russian in Latvia.
• Caroline Rabideau, '24, is a double major in Political Science and International Studies with a minor in Linguistics. She will study Turkish in Azerbaijan.

For Mikhail Mikhaylov, receiving the Boren Scholarship was a three-year journey. "My initial reaction [to the news of winning] can be encapsulated by the sentiment of 'At Last!'" says Mikhaylov. Despite the initial rejections and not advancing as a finalist multiple times, he persevered until his success this year.

Mikhaylov credits the UF Honors Program's "unwavering support" for his growth as a Boren applicant:

UF fostered a perfect balance between kind support and necessary criticism. Through the discerning guidance of the review committee and the dedicated staff of the UF Honors Program, I received invaluable feedback instrumental in refining my writing to its fullest potential. The process of introspectively evaluating one's amalgamated skills, experiences, and interests and subsequently aligning them with the discerned criteria of a particular award committee is often a challenging endeavor.

Dr. Morgan Rich and Michael K. O'Malley are two of the review board members who provided critical feedback for the Boren applicants. The board searches for a clear, well-reasoned thesis, discovers opportunities for elevating the argument, and shares that feedback with the student. Their advice guides students down a path with a greater chance for success.

"The applications I reviewed all showed a deep desire for public service," says Dr. Rich. "The students, throughout their undergraduate careers, were already making measurable contributions to future careers and see the value in language learning."

Whether a student receives a prestigious award or not, O'Malley stresses the value of applying. "These applications really make you think about who you are and why your background and experience have uniquely qualified you for the particular award, and I think it's a wholistically enriching experience, as long as you're open to (sometimes quite critical!) feedback."

The Boren Awards are open to undergraduate and graduate students. Students interested in Boren's African Flagship Languages Initiative (AFLI) might be surprised to learn that the initiative is hosted by the UF Center for African Studies and the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures. AFLI is an 8-week full-time domestic summer intensive program offered on campus in Gainesville. 

UF language programs, such as the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, and the Centers for African Studies, Latin American Studies, and European Studies, are crucial elements in these applicants' journey to receiving the award. Students use these learning spaces to develop the foundation of their language studies, preparing them for the Boren Awards and other opportunities. 

Contact the Office of Prestigious Awards at PrestigiousAwards@aa.ufl.edu for more details and to explore more study or research abroad opportunities.

Written by Braden Blue.