Four University Students Earn State Department Scholarships

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Four University of Arkansas students will spend from 7-10 weeks this summer studying Arabic in intensive language training programs as part of the U.S. State Department’s Critical Language Scholarship program. In addition to their language studies the students will immerse themselves in the culture of the countries where they are studying.

All four are students in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences:

• Joshua Moore is a senior anthropology and Middle East studies major from Dallas. He will be studying in Jordan.
• Ethan Morton-Jerome is a doctoral student in anthropology from Fayetteville. He will be studying in Oman.
• Matthew Parnell is a doctoral student in history from Roanoke Rapids, N.C. He will also be studying in Oman.
• Andrew Walchuk is a senior from Conway majoring in international relations, political science, and Spanish with minors in economics, Arabic, and Middle East studies. He will be studying in Morocco.

Nearly 5,300 students applied to take part in the Critical Languages Scholarship program and 575 undergraduate and graduate students were selected, based on academic merit. Students in the program are expected to continue their language study beyond their studies and apply their language skills in their future professional careers.

The U.S. State Department launched the program in 2006 to increase opportunities for American students to study 15 specific “critical-need” languages overseas. The program is part of a wider U.S. government effort to dramatically expand the number of Americans studying and mastering these languages.