David L. Boren Graduate Fellowship
SUNY Winners
Boren Graduate Fellowship
Matthew August Olexa
Binghamton University
Matthew August Olexa, who graduated from Binghamton in 2007 with a major in Arabic Studies, has been awarded the National Security Education Program Boren Fellowship. Olexa, 22, of Burlington, Conn., said the fellowship of up to $24,000 will fund overseas study. He plans to apply to the Center for Arabic Study Abroad as well as other programs that offer intensive Arabic language courses. In accepting the award, Olexa agrees to work for the federal government for a year. He plans to enroll in a two-year master’s program.
R. Kevin Lacey, associate professor and chair of Classical and Near Eastern
Studies and director of the Middle East and North African Studies Program,
supported Olexa’s application for the fellowship. He said Olexa’s award
reflects the growing popularity and importance of Arabic as well as the quality
of Binghamton’s students.
Boren Undergraduate Scholar
Paul Anderson
Binghamton University
Paul Anderson, 23 from Greenlawn, N.Y. is double-majoring in Arabic and
Linguistics at Binghamton University and was awarded the National Security
Education Program Boren Fellowship. The fellowship of up to $24,000 will fund
overseas study. Anderson plans to study at the American University in Cairo,
Egypt.
R. Kevin Lacey, associate professor and chair of Classical and Near Eastern
Studies and director of the Middle East and North African Studies Program,
supported Anderson's application for the fellowship. In accepting the award,
Anderson agrees to work for the federal government for a year. The service
requirement states that an award recipient work in the Departments of Defense,
Homeland Security, State or the Intelligence Community. Under some
circumstances, an award recipient may work in any U.S. federal department or
agency with national security responsibilities.
Boren Scholarships offer financial support for undergraduates to study
abroad. Award amounts are up to $20,000 for study of world regions
critical to U.S. interests, including Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe,
Eurasia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East. In accepting the
award, Anderson agrees to work for the federal government for a year.
The service requirement states that an award recipient work in the
Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, State or the Intelligence Community.
Under some circumstances, an award recipient may work in any U.S. federal
department or agency with national security responsibilities.
*updated June 2008