Bloomington, Indiana – Indiana University Bloomington has once again proven itself a powerhouse in preparing students for careers in international affairs and national security. With seven students earning prestigious Boren Scholarships this year, IU continues its upward trajectory as a leader in critical language instruction and global engagement. The university has now secured a place among the top producers of Boren Awards for the third consecutive year, currently tied for second in the nation.
The Boren Awards, supported by the U.S. Department of Defense and the Department of State, offer scholarships to undergraduate students to study languages that are vital to U.S. national interests. The goal is to develop a pipeline of skilled professionals who are fluent in strategically important languages and are willing to serve in the federal government after graduation.
This year’s IU recipients will spend an academic year abroad, immersed in intensive language programs. Some will travel to Kazakhstan to study Russian, while others will head to Taiwan to study Mandarin Chinese. The students’ academic backgrounds vary, with majors ranging from international studies and East Asian languages to cybersecurity, graphic design, and business management.
“Indiana University’s leadership in both critical language instruction and education abroad is a core contributor to our students’ success,” said Jennifer Engel, IU’s associate vice president for Education Abroad. “Our continued dominance in this area shows how powerful collaborative mentorship between academic departments and administrative offices can be for our students.”
For Layaan Hajiyev, a student in IU’s Cybersecurity and Global Policy Program — a joint degree offered by the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies and the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering — the Boren Scholarship is about more than academics. “Boren is more than just a scholarship; it’s a chance to take what I’ve learned and put it into practice through language, technology and service,” Hajiyev said.
Hajiyev specifically chose IU for its national reputation in Russian language education and its standing as a Language Flagship university. The Language Flagship program, initiated by the Department of Defense in 2002, aims to address national security needs by helping students gain regional expertise and achieve professional-level language fluency. IU is one of only 14 institutions nationwide to hold this designation and offers more Language Flagship programs than any other university in the country.
For many of the award recipients, IU’s emphasis on language learning and global education was the deciding factor in choosing where to study. Alyssa McDermott, who will be studying Mandarin Chinese in Taiwan, said her search for a school with a strong Chinese program led her to IU. “I knew that learning and using Chinese was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life,” McDermott said. “I diligently researched many schools with that condition — having an amazing Chinese program — and that’s how I found out about IU.”
McDermott, who grew up in a military family, added that the federal service requirement tied to the Boren Scholarship is a benefit, not a burden. “As someone interested in working in the federal government, the government service requirement opens new doors for me professionally,” she said.
Indeed, the scholarship’s service condition — which requires recipients to work for the federal government after graduation — aligns well with the long-term goals of many IU students. Dawson Lipperd, a student worker at IU’s Center for the Study of Global Change, is preparing to spend a year in Kazakhstan. For him, the Boren Award is a major step toward his dream of becoming a public service officer. “It is a jumping-off point for me in my life to be able to achieve my goals,” Lipperd said.
IU’s success in the Boren Awards is not solely due to the quality of its academic programs. The university has built a strong support system to guide students through the competitive and complex application process. Offices such as the Hutton Honors College, the Hamilton Lugar School, the Office of National Scholarships, and Education Abroad provide students with critical resources, mentorship, and encouragement.
“IU gave me everything I needed to feel confident throughout the Boren application process,” said Hajiyev. “The mentorship and structure IU provides really made all the difference.”
Many of this year’s winners emphasized the personal support they received from faculty and staff throughout the months-long application period. The sense of community and mentorship was key to their success — and a unique strength of IU’s academic culture.
For some, the Boren Scholarship represents more than just an opportunity to study abroad — it’s a life-changing milestone. Marilyn King, a student in the graphic design program at the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design, signed up for the Russian Flagship program inspired by her family’s connection to the language. She is now preparing to study Russian in Kazakhstan, and her journey is one of grit, determination, and gratitude.
“Winning a Boren Award feels so surreal,” King said. “The odds were against me, and I knew it would be difficult to write a convincing case as to how, or even why, a graphic designer should be deserving of a Boren Award. I am a first-generation college student, and the most valuable lessons I have ever learned in life were in the classroom. Education is a privilege, and I am so grateful for everyone who has pushed me to this point in my life. It is truly an honor.”
With its combination of expert language instruction, institutional support, and a deep commitment to international education, Indiana University Bloomington continues to play a vital role in shaping the next generation of global leaders. Its consistent success in the Boren Awards program stands as a testament to the university’s vision and the dedication of its students and faculty.
As national security concerns evolve and the demand for cultural and linguistic fluency grows, IU’s role as a training ground for future federal employees and global professionals becomes more important than ever. Through programs like the Boren Awards and the Language Flagship, the university is not only preparing students for their careers — it’s helping shape the future of diplomacy, intelligence, and international cooperation.
