If you have not yet watched a Boren Awards webinar or attended a presentation on your campus, we recommend starting with the 7 minute introductory video. The webinars are pre-recorded and subtitled for your convenience. The system does not allow for live Q&A, so please contact us at boren@iie.org or 1-800-618-NSEP (6737) if you have any questions about the content of these presentations.
These webinars and videos made by past Boren Scholars and Fellows are available on the Boren Awards YouTube channel.
Presentations will be posted on this page as they become available, and will cover topics such as the online application system, writing competitive essays, and special regional and subject-matter initiatives. Toward the end of the season, we will also host live frequently-asked-question webinars. Click here to join our mailing list and follow our Twitter feed @borenawards to be notified about upcoming events!
2023 Applicant Webinars
Introduction (7 min) - Start here to learn the basic eligibility requirements and selection criteria for both the undergraduate Boren Scholarships and the graduate Boren Fellowships. This video will tell you whether the Boren Awards are right for you!
Boren Scholarships - Self-Identified Language Programs (13 min) - This webinar explains how to identify an eligible overseas language program for the undergraduate Boren Scholarships.
Boren Fellowships - Self-Designed Research & Language Programs (13 min) - This webinar explains how graduate students applying for the Boren Fellowships should design an eligible program, incorporating language study as well as (optionally) research, internships, or other academic study.
Introduction to the Flagship Language Initiatives (14 min) - This webinar covers the structure of the Flagship Language Initiatives, which are available to both undergraduate Boren Scholars and graduate Boren Fellows. These include the African Flagship Languages Initiative (AFLI), the Indonesian Flagship Language Initiative (IFLI), the South Asian Flagship Language Initiative (SAFLI), and the Turkish Flagship Language Initiative (TURFLI).
Crafting Competitive Essays (35 min) - This webinar provides a deep dive into the critically important Boren Awards application essays. It covers the concept of national security discussed in Essay # 1 and how to describe career plans with the federal government in Essay # 2. This information and useful links to U.S. government careers websites is available at https://borenawards.org/essays.
Special Topics
Understanding the NSEP Service Requirement - This is an overview of the process for seeking federal employment after receiving a Boren Scholarship or Fellowship, and the numerous advantages that program alumni have in that process. This webinar is hosted by the National Security Education Program (NSEP) service team, a division of the Defense Language and National Security Education Office of the U.S. Department of Defense, which assists program alumni in securing employment throughout the U.S. federal government and its contractors.