The Boren Scholarships are competitive awards that give undergraduate students the chance to study languages critical to U.S. national security and the culture of world regions often unavailable to the typical student who chooses to study abroad. After completing their degree, Boren Scholars serve the federal government for at least one year, which provides them with valuable work experience.
In recent years, Purdue has produced two remarkable Boren Scholars. One of these students is Charlotte Yeung, a political science student in the College of Liberal Arts and active humanitarian advocate.
Blending arts activism and policy development
Yeung’s mission revolves around mitigating the humanitarian and environmental effects of weaponry across the globe. By blending arts activism and policy development, Yeung aims to increase public awareness of the consequential nature of weapon use while also contributing to research that unmasks the effects of these weapons.
Yeung decided to apply for the Boren Scholarship after being encouraged to apply by Lindsay Sheedy, assistant director of the National and International Scholarships Office (NISO).
“Lindsay is an incredible mentor,” Yeung shared. “I’ve learned a lot about writing applications from her as I probably apply to 20+ programs and scholarships per year; even if I don’t get the scholarship, the process itself gives me material for future applications and ideas about what I want to do with my life.”
Upon receiving the scholarship, Yeung decided to travel abroad to Japan to study as an exchange student at Waseda University in Tokyo.
“I had previously applied to multiple Purdue exchange programs and got into them, but I kept canceling on them because I was scared of leaving everything I’d ever known,” Yeung said. “Being a Boren Scholar finally pushed me to go ahead with buying a ticket to Japan and study abroad.”
Yeung has gone above and beyond as a student in her time at Purdue, publishing an Amazon No. 1 New Release Children’s Book and becoming a National Youth Poet Laureate Finalist for her humanitarian-centered poetry. Later this year, one of Yeung’s publications will be among a few artifacts sent to the moon.
Associate professor in the College of Liberal Arts Matthew Hannah recommended Yeung for the Boren Scholarship after she participated in his experimental “Diplomacy Lab” course.
“Charlotte’s accomplishments at such a young age are, quite frankly, astounding,” Hannah said. “She possesses an intellectual maturity, which is rare in undergraduates, and her wide range of interests and experiences is only matched by her hard work and dedication.”
Yeung was recently selected as the sole American United Nations (UN) Youth Disarmament Champion, empowering Yeung to continue exploring disarmament in communities across the world.
National and International Scholarships Office
The National and International Scholarships Office is housed in the John Martinson Honors College and works with students across campus to coordinate the process of applying for scholarships and grants that require a university nomination. Purdue students applying for prestigious awards such as the Boren Scholarship receive support and guidance through this office.
In the past six years, more than 50% of the applicants working closely with NISO received the Boren Scholarship or Boren Fellowship.
“Having a passion gives so much meaning and joy to life that even if you end up more successful in a different field, it is worth it to just pursue something you love doing,” Yeung concluded. “Scholarship opportunities helped me pursue my passion, and I highly recommend attending NISO events and speaking with the scholarship office about relevant scholarships to any student.”
Read about Purdue’s other Boren Scholar, Sophia Flores, on the Teaching and Learning website.
Owen Hughes
Student Communication Assistant for Teaching and Learning, hughe357@purdue.edu