Arizona State University has announced that eight of its students have been selected for the 2025 Boren Awards, a federal program supporting study abroad in languages deemed critical to U.S. interests. Seven recipients will study Mandarin and one will study Russian. The group includes seven undergraduates awarded Boren scholarships and one graduate student who received a Boren fellowship.
The Boren Awards, sponsored by the National Security Education Program within the U.S. Department of Defense, offer up to $30,000 for immersive language study in regions such as Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East. Recipients are required to work for at least one year in the federal government after graduation.
Kyle Mox, associate dean for national scholarship advisement at ASU, highlighted the dedication of both students and advisors: “Our advisors work closely with each applicant to help them connect their interests in language and culture with long-term goals in public service, turning individual passion into purposeful global engagement,” he said.
Valerie Hammond is among this year’s recipients. She has begun an intensive Mandarin program in Taiwan after informally studying the language through classes and apps over the past year. Hammond is pursuing a master’s degree in sustainable food systems via ASU Online. “My master’s thesis is on water management in Taiwan and how it relates to Arizona with agriculture and the tech industry, because both use a lot of water,” she explained. Hammond earned her undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley.
Hammond sees potential career opportunities with agencies like the Army Corps of Engineers or the National Security Council after completing her fellowship commitment. “I would really like to get into water security, helping to plan water resources and being aware of what’s going on in other countries,” she said.
She added: “There are ‘hot spots’ around the world where there is going to be conflict because of continental drying — countries are losing fresh water.” She believes cultural understanding is essential: “We can work on some of the cultural barriers with water management because it’s important for people to learn from other cultures.”
ASU’s School of International Letters and Cultures enrolls about 10,500 students per semester across language-related courses. According to Sara Beaudrie, director of the school and professor of Spanish linguistics, roughly 500 students take Chinese each semester while about 120 study Russian.
“(The school) is home to the Chinese Language Flagship program, one of only a handful nationwide funded by the U.S. Department of Defense through the National Security Education Program,” Beaudrie said. “It’s a tremendous distinction and it means that ASU students can achieve professional-level Mandarin proficiency while pursuing degrees in fields like engineering, business, political science or global studies. The Flagship program includes study abroad and intensive language training, preparing graduates for international careers and government service at the highest level.”
Beaudrie emphasized broader benefits: “From a career perspective, bilingualism is a major advantage. Employers consistently report that they need professionals who can work across cultures and communicate with diverse clients and partners,” she noted. “Job postings for bilingual candidates have more than doubled in recent years, and multilingual employees often earn 5% to 20% more than their peers.” She added that skills developed through language study—such as intercultural communication—are increasingly important alongside technical expertise.
“These human-centered skills are increasingly vital in the age of AI, where technology can process information, but only people can interpret meaning, navigate cultural nuance and build authentic connections across borders.”
Spencer Johnson was awarded a Boren scholarship to continue his studies in Russian—a language he began learning as a child—and will travel to Estonia for an immersion program next year while enrolled at ASU’s Thunderbird School of Global Management online degree program.
Johnson reflected on his academic journey: “The Russian was a minor at first and I was like, ‘Wow, it’s five credits and every day of the week. It’s rigorous.’” He ultimately double-majored following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
He described his ambitions: “Another career aspiration is to do something in national security or cybersecurity to defend against Russian interference… I do want to use my Russian language internationally for the good of the United States in whatever role they see fit.”
ASU continues its involvement beyond academics; according to a press release, it also partners with local entities such as Argos Vision—a tech startup developing smart traffic cameras—to enhance safety initiatives within Phoenix.
Additionally, Arizona State University has been recognized as number one for innovation nationally by U.S. News & World Report for eight consecutive years.
Students interested in applying for future Boren Awards must coordinate applications through ASU’s Lorraine W. Frank Office of National Scholarship Advisement by early January.
