Six UMD Students Named 2024 CLS Scholars
Six University of Maryland students were awarded the U.S. Department of State Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) for intensive language study in summer 2024.
CLS scholars will study for 8 to 10 weeks in their host countries, fully immersed in their target languages and cultures. These scholars will receive 20 hours a week of formal language instruction, work with language partners, enjoy cultural excursions and other enriching activities, all designed to promote rapid language gain.
The CLS Program provides opportunities to U.S. undergraduate and graduate students to study one of 13 critical languages: Arabic, Azerbaijani, Chinese, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Swahili, Turkish, or Urdu. The CLS Program is developed in partnership with local institutions in countries where these languages are commonly spoken. CLS scholars are expected to continue their language study beyond the scholarship and apply their critical language skills in their future careers.
To learn more about the Critical Language Scholarship please visit their website. If you are interested in applying to the program or speaking to a UMD advisor, please contact the National Scholarships Office at clsholarship@umd.
Alice Fisher - Persian
Alice is a senior in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences double majoring in Government and Politics with an International Relations concentration, and in Persian Studies. She is a member of the Honors College’s Honors Global Communities program.
Makynzie Horvath - Korean
Makynzie is a master’s student in the Department of Higher Education, Student Affairs, International Education in the College of Education.
Jahnavi Kirkire - Hindi
Jahnavi is a senior majoring in Government and Politics with a concentration in International Relations in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences. She is also majoring in Public Policy, and completing minors in History as well as Law and Society. Jahnavi is a member of the Honors College’s Honors Humanities program.
Alyssa Taylor - Korean
Alyssa is a senior majoring in Government and Politics with a concentration in International Relations in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences. She is also minoring in Korean Studies. Alyssa is a member of the Global Fellows in Washington, D.C. program, U.S. Diplomacy concentration.
Caroline Tristani - Bahasa Indonesia
Caroline is a senior majoring in Criminology and Criminal Justice and minoring in Law and Society and Global Terrorism Studies in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences. She was a member of the College Park Scholars Justice and Legal Thought program and completed the Federal Fellows in Washington, D.C. program, Homeland National Security Policy concentration.
Oreet Zimand - Russian
Oreet is a senior in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences triple-majoring in Government and Politics with a concentration in International Relations, as well as in Russian, and History. She completed the Global Fellows in Washington, D.C. program, Critical Regions concentration, and is a member of the Honors College’s Design, Cultures, and Creativity program.