Provides up to $25,000 to support immersive, language-centered study abroad for the purpose of equipping Americans with an understanding of less commonly studied languages and cultures in regions critical to U.S. interests. Study abroad for more than a semester is preferred, and most qualifying countries are less frequently visited by U.S. students. Study of a foreign language appropriate to the identified country must be an integral part of the proposal. Applicants must be U.S. citizens with strong academic records, language and international interests. FRESHMAN through SENIORS may apply for the Boren Scholarships and GRADUATE STUDENTS for the Boren Fellowships. Graduate students may propose projects related to their thesis research and writing. The awards carry a requirement of one year of work for the federal government. An institutional review and interview process is conducted on campus for applicants.
The Office for National and International Scholarships organizes the review process, consults with all interested students on assembling competitive applications, works with applicants to prepare for all stages of national competition, and publicizes results.
University of MN Recipients
Some recipient names are not currently available.
- 2025 Scholar -- Libby Nemitz, Asian and Middle Eastern Studies; Global Studies (Taiwan/Mandarin)
- 2024 Scholar -- Joli Lacy, Asian and Middle Eastern Studies; Marketing (Monterey/Mandarin)
- 2023 Scholar -- Thomas Fabian, Math; Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (Monterey/Mandarin)
- 2023 Fellow -- Kee Her, International Youth Leadership (Thailand/Thai)
- 2022 Fellow – Phoebe Edalatpour, Civil Engineering (Sierra Leone/Mende)
- 2021 Scholar – Caleb Feltis, Linguistics; Computer Science (Monterey/Mandarin)
- 2021 Scholar – Maggie Lundberg, Linguistics; Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (Monterey/Mandarin)
- 2020 Scholar – Clara Bartnik, Economics (Declined)
- 2020 Scholar – Juliet Paulson, Anthropology (China/Mandarin)
- 2020 Scholar – Anna Sherman, Global Studies; Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (Monterey/Mandarin)
- 2019 Scholar – Benjamin Allard, Political Science (India/Hindi)
- 2019 Scholar – Jace Galley, Agricultural and Food Sciences (Senegal/French)
- 2019 Scholar – Samuel Lindberg, Economics (South Korea/Korean)
- 2018 Fellow – Laura Seithers, Education (Oman/Arabic)
- 2017 Fellow – Chelsea Cervantes de Blois, Geography (Azerbaijan/Turkish)
- 2017 Scholar – Nicole Robinson, Languages (Jordan/Arabic)
- 2016 Fellow – Elshiva Cohen, Education (Jordan/Arabic)
- 2016 Fellow – Chelsea Matson, Public Policy (Israel/Arabic)
- 2016 Fellow – Brooke McManigle, Public Policy (Morocco/Arabic)
- 2015 Scholar – Sean Van Domelan, International Affairs (Jordan/Arabic)
- 2014 Scholar – Victoria B, Linguistics (Brazil/Portuguese)
- 2014 Fellow – Chou Moua, Development Policy (China/Mandarin)
- 2013 Scholar – Joseph Spanjers, Economics (Morocco/Arabic)
- 2012 Scholar – Anna Kaminski, Global Studies, Arts (Jordan/Arabic)
- 2012 Scholar – Stephanie Morse-Noland, Asian Languages (S. Korea/Korean)
- 2012 Fellow – Peter Ehresman, International Affairs (China/Mandarin)
- 2010 Scholar – Rebecca Sand, Genetics (China/Mandarin)
- 2010 Fellow – Shawn O'Donnell, Public Administration (Syria/Arabic)
- 2009 Scholar – Mary Scott, Area Studies (India/Hindi)
- 2009 Scholar – International Politics (Jordan/Arabic)
- 2009 Scholar – International Health (Tanzania/Swahili)
- 2008 Scholar – History (Russia/Russian)
- 2008 Fellow – Geography (Tanzania/Swahili)
- 2007 Scholar – Physics (S. Korea/Korean)
- 2006 Scholar – Laura Schlicting, English (Egypt/Arabic)
- 2006 Scholar – International Business (Egypt/Arabic)
- 2005 Scholar – International Relations (Egypt/Arabic)
- 2005 Scholar – International Relations (Syria/Arabic)
- 2004 Fellow – Anthropology (Czech Republic/Czech)
- 2004 Fellow – Public Administration (Pakistan/Urdu)
- 2003 Scholar –International Relations (Egypt/Arabic)
- 2000 Scholar –Alexandra Zuber, International Relations (Zimbabwe)
- 2000 Fellow – Amy Porter, Anthropology (Cuba/Spanish)
- 2000 Fellow –Jai Ranganathan, Conservation Biology (India/Tamil)