Four UMD Arabic Flagship Students Win Boren Scholarship for Intensive Studies in Morocco

University of Maryland Students Achieve Prestigious Honor and Funding for Arabic Language Immersion Program in Meknes.

Four University of Maryland (UMD) Arabic Flagship students have achieved a major accomplishment by being accepted into the Arabic Capstone Year program in Meknes, Morocco for the academic year 2023-2024. What's more, all four students have also won the prestigious Boren Scholarship worth $25,000 each.

The four students are Gillian Boline, Amaya Moody, Luke Hanno, and Robert Hedberg. All four students achieved an Advanced rating in Arabic, a language that they are deeply passionate about.

Gillian Boline, a senior Arabic Flagship student, is double majoring in Arabic Studies and Government and Politics with an International Relations concentration. She has previously interned at the U.S. Department of State's Foreign Service Institute and wants to use her language skills to work in diplomacy or humanitarian work.

Amaya Moody, a senior Arabic Flagship student, is majoring in Arabic Studies and minoring in Second Language Education. She is passionate about teaching and hopes to be a translator and interpreter for English and Arabic, as well as teach English in an Arabic speaking country.

Luke Hanno, a senior Arabic Flagship student, is double majoring in Arabic Studies and International Business Management. He hopes to work in the Federal Government in the field of economic development or financial crime in the Arab world.

Robert Hedberg, a senior Arabic Flagship student, is triple majoring in Arabic Studies, Psychology, and Economics. He hopes to pursue a career that combines his interests in language, diplomacy, and economics in the U.S. Department of State.

All four students will be completing their Arabic Flagship Capstone Year in Meknes, Morocco, and will have the opportunity to further develop their language skills and immerse themselves in the Arabic-speaking culture. The Boren Scholarship will fund their intensive studies, providing them with the necessary resources to achieve their career aspirations.

The Arabic Flagship program at UMD is renowned for its rigorous and immersive approach to teaching Arabic. The program aims to produce graduates who are proficient in Arabic and have the skills and cultural understanding necessary to work in a variety of fields related to the Arabic-speaking world. Congratulations to Gillian, Amaya, Luke, and Robert on their impressive achievements!