Vivian Mitnick of Venice, Calif. receives Boren Scholarship to study Mandarin

BELOIT, WI (05/23/2012)(readMedia)-- Vivian Mitnick of Venice, Calif., was awarded a Boren Scholarship to study Mandarin at Shandong University in China during the 2012-2013 academic year. Mitnick is a junior at Beloit College majoring in Chinese language and culture.

As part of the scholarship, she will travel to Washington, D.C., in June for a convocation. After graduation from Beloit, she will also receive a one-year job with the U.S. government.

Mitnick was one of 161 undergraduate students awarded a Boren Scholarship, out of 1,014 applicants.

David L. Boren Scholarships and Fellowships are sponsored by the National Security Education Program, a major federal initiative designed to build a broader and more qualified pool of U.S. citizens with foreign language and international skills. Boren Awards provide U.S. undergraduate and graduate students with resources and encouragement to acquire language skills and experience in countries critical to the future security and stability of our nation. In exchange for funding, Boren award recipients agree to work in the federal government for a period of at least one year.

"The National Security Education Program represents an essential component of a comprehensive national security strategy to address serious and long-time deficiencies in critical language expertise," according to Michael A. Nugent, director of NSEP.

Beloit College is a residential, liberal arts college offering 40 majors to its 1,250 students. Located 90 miles northwest of Chicago, Beloit is one of the nation's most international colleges, drawing students from 41 nations as well as 49 states.