David L. Boren Awards for International Study

A Boren Scholar from the University of Arkansas who is majoring in international relations with a minor in Latin American studies spent a year in Brazil studying Portuguese language and Brazilian culture. The Scholar’s program in Sao Paulo gave him a home stay experience and total immersion in the Portuguese language.

The Scholar attended the Pontificia Universidade Catolica de Sao Paulo, where he studied intensive Portuguese and took classes on the Brazilian economy and culture. The Scholar also went on field trips to Rio de Janeiro and a Landless Workers Movement camp with his study abroad program, and he took a weekly class in jiu-jitsu.

Although the Scholar’s home university did not offer Portuguese, he studied Spanish in order to prepare for the new language. The Scholar became interested in studying in Brazil because of its importance to the world economy and because of his personal interest in matters relating to Latin American security.

Since the completion of his study abroad program, the Scholar has returned to Brazil several times. He has given lectures on the topic of international relations in Brazil, and has written an award-winning article on a political riot in Sao Paolo. He has since completed several research projects on the economic policy of Brazil.

As a United States armed forces veteran, the Fellow is already familiar with working for the government. He has held a life-long ambition to work in the intelligence community and hopes to start a career at the Central Intelligence Agency after graduation. He feels confident that his Boren Scholarship experience will help him achieve his career goals.