Schools

Former Roswell Student Awarded Opportunity to Study in China Next Year

Christian Conroy will enroll in Mandarin Chinese language courses for a year in China.

Five University of Georgia undergraduates - including a former student - will be spending the next academic year participating in language study abroad programs, thanks to the National Security Education Program David L. Boren Undergraduate Scholarship.

The UGA Boren Scholars are juniors Tia Ayele of Stone Mountain, Malena Lopez-Sotelo of Rentz and John Esteban Rodriguez of Guyton, and seniors Christian Conroy of Roswell and David Gutiérrez of Albany.

The National Security Act of 1991 that was written by David L. Boren, current president of the University of Oklahoma, created the Boren award. The scholarship program, which is for one semester or a full academic year, promotes global citizenship by providing recipients with the resources to pursue study abroad experiences focused on languages, fields of study and geographic areas deemed critical to U.S. interests. In return, the recipients agree to seek work in the federal government.

Conroy, who is pursuing bachelor’s degrees in international affairs and political science, will be enrolled in Mandarin Chinese language courses for a year in China and conducting national security research, particularly on nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament. His career aspirations include a focus on government service related to national security issues.  

“I planned to study abroad in China during my time at UGA since I first began studying Mandarin Chinese, but was always unsure about how to acquire the resources to get there,” said Conroy, a graduate of Roswell High School. “I am beyond excited about receiving the Boren Scholarship and the opportunities my experience in China will provide in the future.”

As a Security Leadership Fellow with UGA’s Center for International Trade and Security, Conroy has written policy briefings and participated in conferences focused on issues such as cyber security, nuclear terrorism and strategic trade management. He also has served as director general for the UGA Model United Nations team.

The Boren Scholarships are the latest national academic awards won by UGA students in the past few months. Four UGA undergraduates were named Goldwater Scholars, and three students—including one of the Goldwater Scholars—earned the Udall Scholarship. Another undergraduate won a Marshall award.

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“Already this year, UGA students have received the maximum number of Goldwater scholarships allowed per institution and set new institutional records with Udall and Fulbright scholarships, so to have a new record number of Boren recipients as well is very exciting,” said David S. Williams, associate provost and director of UGA’s Honors Program. “Taken together, this level of success underscores that UGA is now a national leader in major scholarship competitions. I know our five new Boren Scholars will take full advantage of the immersive experiences this stellar scholarship provides.”

Check out NSEP Boren Scholarships for more information, or for more information on UGA’s Honors Program, visit the website.

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