CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - A University of Illinois student has been awarded a Boren Scholarship and will be spending the 2013-2014 academic year studying Korean language and culture in South Korea.
Boren awards, part of the National Security Education Program, provide funds for exceptional undergraduate and graduate students to study nontraditional languages around the world. Boren scholars pledge to seek employment with the Department of State, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security or the intelligence community after graduation.
Justin Del Rosario, of Skokie, Ill., has been offered a $12,000 Boren Scholarship to study Korean at Yonsei University. Del Rosario is pursuing a double major in political science and Spanish at Illinois. With knowledge of Spanish and Tagalog, Del Rosario has traveled to 12 nations on five continents. He is interested in comparative politics and issues related to developing nations. While pursuing language courses in Korean, he hopes to also study Korean unification and South Korean foreign policy.
"Justin's impressive background reflects why the U. of I. continues to be one of the nation's top producers of Boren recipients," said David Schug, the director of the National and International Scholarships Program at Illinois.
Recipients of the Boren Scholarship are required to serve at least one year in a federal government agency connected to national security. Del Rosario wants to work in the Federal Bureau of Investigation as a special agent in the international operations division. Del Rosario has worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture assisting investigations and as a public health and community development facilitator in Paraguay.
"Justin is one of the most determined students that we have had come through the office," said Bill Brown, an adviser for the scholarships program. "His career focus and enthusiasm for going to South Korea impressed our faculty reviewers and the national Boren committee as well."
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