Jeremy Hicks, a graduate student at Oklahoma State University (OSU), has been awarded the prestigious David L. Boren Fellowship, enabling him to immerse himself in South Korean culture and language for a year.
Hicks, who is pursuing a master’s degree in global studies with a focus on diplomacy and communication, was selected from over 245 applicants to be one of just over 100 recipients of the Boren Fellowship. This fellowship is sponsored by the National Security Education Program (NSEP), part of the Defense Language and National Security Education Office (DLNSEO).
“It’s an honor to be chosen as one of the recipients of this award,” said Hicks. “To be chosen out of the 245 applicants is a humbling experience, but also a validation of all the hard work and time I’ve put into my education and future career plans.”
The NSEP aims to enhance the pool of U.S. citizens with foreign language and international skills critical to national security. The Boren Awards support this mission by providing students with resources to develop language proficiency and cultural understanding in regions vital to U.S. interests.
“The National Security Education Program has transformed how U.S. higher education approaches the study of foreign languages and cultures, providing Americans opportunities to learn, grow, and serve,” said Dr. Clare Bugary, director of DLNSEO.
Hicks will spend a year in South Korea, from August 2024 to August 2025, to deepen his understanding of the country’s culture, politics, and language, enhancing both his personal and professional development.
This is not Hicks’ first encounter with the Boren Awards; in 2019, he received a Boren Scholarship as an undergraduate to study Japanese language and culture in Japan.
Hicks’ interest in the Trilateral Alliance—a security pact between the U.S., Japan, and South Korea—has driven his educational and career aspirations. He aims to become a foreign service officer focused on public diplomacy within one of these countries, helping to foster mutual understanding and cooperation.
“It would be a dream come true to serve the State Department as a foreign service officer,” Hicks said. “I believe it is an opportunity for me to use my skills and knowledge of all three cultures to help each one understand the other and develop relationships that would be beneficial to all parties.”
Since its inception, nearly 8,000 students have received Boren Awards, using their foreign language and cultural expertise to support critical federal agency missions.
“The Boren Awards have provided me with amazing opportunities,” Hicks stated. “I would encourage any OSU student interested in learning a foreign language or developing a better knowledge of a foreign culture to apply for a Boren Award and spend time studying abroad. You never realize how big the world is until you travel outside of the country.”
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