Griffin McGuire from Charlotte, NC has been awarded the National Security Education Program’s David L. Boren Scholarship, which supports various fields of study, particularly languages, identified as critical to United States national security.
McGuire is a fourth-year undergraduate student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 2021. Boren Awards provide U.S. undergraduate and graduate students with resources and encouragement to acquire language skills and experience in countries critical to the future security and stability of the United States. “To continue to play a leadership role in the world, it is vital that America’s future leaders have a deep understanding of the rest of the world,” says former U.S. Senator David Boren, the principal author of the legislation that created the National Security Education Program. “As we seek to lead through partnerships, understanding of other cultures and languages is absolutely essential.”
Valued at up to $30,000, Boren scholarships are awarded to students in exchange for their commitment to pursue work in federal government departments like defense, homeland security and state or intelligence agencies after graduation. Boren Scholars live and study in areas of the world that are important to national security.
McGuire, 22, is a student ambassador for the Russian Flagship Program, where he helps to organize and lead RFP events, run social media accounts, and represent the program to groups of prospective students. The Boren Scholarship will enable him to travel to Kazakhstan and where he plans to study at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. Following the completion of his capstone year, he will graduate with a double major in Global Studies (International Politics & Russia) and Political Science as well as a minor in Music minor.
When asked about what sparked his interest in the Russian Flagship Program at UNC Chapel Hill McGuire said, “I’ve always had an interest in global affairs and history. My interest in Russian language came out of an interest in Cold War history and relations between the US and the USSR/Russia. I’ve now studied Russian for several years and it’s one of my most meaningful academic focuses. This program in Almaty, Kazakhstan is perfect for my interests. I want nothing more than to be completely fluent in Russian, and I very much look forward to exploring another corner of the post-Soviet world.”
Submitted by the Office of Distinguished Scholarships
