Jasper Burgard, a rising second-year International Strategy and Security (ISS) major at CSU Maritime Academy, has been awarded a Boren Scholarship to study the Russian language in Almaty, Kazakhstan during the 2025-26 academic year. The Boren Scholarship provides up to $25,000 for undergraduate students to spend up to a year abroad intensively studying a language and culture.  

“I am extremely excited for this unique opportunity and can't wait to see the beautiful mountains surrounding Almaty,” said Burgard. “I plan on taking the gained cultural knowledge and Russian proficiency into my career as a Marine Corps Officer."

The David L. Boren Scholarships and Fellowships are sponsored by the National Security Education Program (NSEP), a component of the Defense Language and National Security Education Office (DLNSEO). NSEP is a federal initiative designed to build a broader and more qualified pool of U.S. citizens with foreign language and international skills. This is the first time that a Cal Maritime student has won a Boren Award. 

 “Jasper’s achievement perfectly encapsulates the goals that we set for our students: a commitment to public service and an interest in going out into the world to learn skills essential to national security, including a critical language and an understanding of other cultures,” said Dr. Chris Chiego, an assistant professor in the ISS department who serves as the Boren Scholarship campus representative. 

In the 2024-2025 academic year, the Institute of International Education (IIE), which administers the awards on behalf of NSEP, received 622 applications from undergraduate students and awarded 132 Boren Scholarships. In exchange for funding, Boren Award recipients agree to work in the federal government for a period of at least one year.

Since 1994, over 8,000 students have received Boren Awards and contributed their vital skills to careers in support of the critical agency missions throughout the federal government. Undergraduate and graduate students interested in applying for the Boren Awards should contact IIE at boren@iie.org or visit borenawards.org.