Three IU students are recipients of national scholarships, which allow them to travel globally and diversify their knowledge in immersive environments.
Rising junior Ethan McAndrews is a double major in International Studies along with East Asian Language and Cultures and is one of five IU undergraduates to receive a Boren Scholarship for the 2019-2020 academic year. The scholarship is a federally-funded scholarship program for students to study abroad with an emphasis on learning the language of a specific region.
During McAndrew’s junior year he will be traveling to The People’s Republic of China for ten months while first residing in Nanjing, China and attending classes full-time at Nanjing University, then he will have the chance to confidently apply his Mandarin skills toward an internship in either Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, or Shenzhen.
“I applied to Boren because I have always aspired to apply my Mandarin ability in the public service and facilitate the next generation of US-China relations,” said McAndrews. “The Boren not only provides me with the resources to study in China but also assists me in finding a federal career after graduation. So, despite its competitive nature and extensive application, the decision to apply for this scholarship was an easy one for me.”
Since McAndrew is participating in an extended length study-abroad program, he plans on engaging and exploring China's history and culture as much as possible. He has heard lots of success stories from other Boren awardees and decided he wanted to create his own.
“When I learned about the resources and guidance Boren offers its students, I decided it was something I wanted to pursue more seriously. During this entire timeline, the Chinese Flagship Program at IU was very supportive of my application,” said McAndrews. “Moral of the story: I’ve never felt like this accomplishment was something I did on my own—I’ve had amazing friends and mentors encouraging me the entire way.”
Another IU scholarship recipient is rising senior Andrew Greco who is majoring in International Studies with a focus on Central Eurasia. Greco is one of five IU students to receive the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) for summer 2019 where he is spending nine weeks in Baku, Azerbaijan.
“After studying Turkish language and culture for three years at Indiana University I was looking for an opportunity to utilize the knowledge and skills I had gained in the classroom in a real-world setting,” said Greco “The CLS program provides me with that chance, so I found it to be the perfect fit for what I wanted.”
This program helps students refine the language their studying by providing them with an opportunity to apply their skills in the classroom and participate in out-the-classroom activities as well.
“The CLS sends students to the Azerbaijan University of Languages to take Turkish classes every day. While not in a class, I will be spending time on cultural excursions and activities in order to experience and learn more about Turkish and Azerbaijani cultures and traditions,” said Greco. “Additionally, one part of the program I am very excited for is living with a host family for the duration of my time abroad. This will provide me with the opportunity to have a fully immersive experience in the target language and culture during the summer, and I am greatly looking forward to this.”
Lastly, recent graduate Morgan Book is the recipient of an Engaged Learning Travel Scholarship, and a US Student Fulbright Award from the State Department. Book majored in economic consulting and public policy analysis from the Kelley School of Business and is using these awards to teach and study in Serbia this July.
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers research, study and teaching opportunities in over 140 countries to recent graduates and graduate students.
“I saw the Fulbright as a tremendous opportunity to get a glimpse into the world of international relations while offering me the chance to do something that I find meaningful,” said Book.
Even though Book’s education has mainly been business-related, he has an interest in diplomacy as well and wants to gain a clearer perspective with his year-long stay in Serbia.
“The summer after my freshman year, I hitchhiked across Eastern Europe for three months and was captivated by the challenges and opportunities I witnessed there, specifically in Serbia,” said Book. “After that experience, I knew I wanted to be at the forefront of tackling those challenges. Should I decide to pursue a career in business following my stint as a Fulbright, the experience will only make me a stronger candidate for whatever position I apply for.”
For those interested in learning about similar opportunities visit the Office of National Scholarships and Awards to find out how to apply to these awards.