Two Syracuse University Students Awarded Critical Language Scholarships, One named an Alternate, for Summer 2020

L-R: Holly Ratcliffe, Allie Berger, and Alizée McLorg

Holly Ratcliffe, a master’s student studying public administration and international relations at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, and Alexandra (Allie) Berger, a Ph.D. student in Religion in the College of Arts and Sciences, were both awarded Critical Language Scholarships for summer 2020. Alizée McLorg, a senior studying public health, neuroscience, and mathematics in The College of Arts and Sciences and the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, was selected as an alternate.

The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program provides undergraduates and graduate students with a fully-funded 8-week immersive language-learning program at a CLS institute in a country outside of the U.S.. CLS currently offers 15 languages , including Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Swahili, Turkish, and Urdu.  In light of current global travel restrictions, the CLS Program has suspended the program for summer 2020, which means that Holly and Allie will not be able to participate this year. Finalists and alternates are encouraged, however, by the fact that CLS has urged them to reapply for next year’s program. As Holly notes, however, “Being selected for a CLS award is truly an honor” regardless of the program’s summer 2020 suspension.

Holly was selected to participate in an Arabic language program, and Allie was selected to participate in a program in Urdu. Holly, who has spent time learning Arabic both domestically and abroad in the past, applied to the CLS Program to strengthen her language skills as she prepares for a career focused on educational exchange programs between the U.S. and the Mideast region. Allie applied for the Urdu institute to aid in her doctoral research on yoga’s presentation and practice in contemporary India.  Alizée was selected as an alternate for Swahili, a program she chose because of her interest in pursuing a career in health policy in eastern Africa.  Students who participate in the program receive the equivalent of two academic semesters worth of instruction.

The application for the CLS Program includes a series of essay prompts which ask applicants to reflect on their preparedness for the program and their future plans to use their language skills. Holly, Allie, and Alizée all received support from the Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising (CFSA) by either attending our writing workshops or working one-on-one with a fellowship advisor.

To learn more about the program, check out their website: clscholarship.org.

Congratulations to our finalists and alternate!