Congratulations to UWM undergraduate and global sustainability major Lauren Sroka who recently received a Boren Scholarship!
The Boren Awards (Scholarship and Fellowship) are extremely competitive national scholarships funded by the U.S. Government through the National Security Education Program (NSEP) with the aim of advancing U.S. national security goals. The programs fund study abroad programs focused on intensive language study, cultural immersion, and long-term study abroad. Recipients receive up to $25,000 in funding for their experience abroad and have a mandatory service requirement to work for the U.S. government after graduation.
Lauren is the first UWM recipient since 2015. She will be studying in Tokyo, Japan in fall 2024, and after graduation she intends to apply to the U.S. Department of Energy to work on climate change policies and reducing fossil fuel use.
Enjoy our interview with Lauren below!
What are you studying and where are you planning to study abroad? What are your academic and professional goals?
I am majoring in global sustainability with a focus on reducing fossil fuel use around the world. Come September I will be heading to Tokyo, Japan to study abroad at Hosei University through UWM’s exchange program. While abroad I will be taking economics classes to learn more about Japan’s recourses. I will also continue my Japanese language studies, as I have taken two years of Japanese here at UWM. After graduation, I plan on applying to the U.S. Department of Energy to work on climate change policies and reducing fossil fuel use.
Can you tell us a bit about the Boren Award?
The Boren Award is a U.S. Federal Government funded scholarship for students learning rare languages. Since Japanese is considered a rare language, I qualified for the award. Awardees not only win a generous financial award, but also have an opportunity to work for the U.S. Federal Government post-graduation. Since I plan to work for the U.S. Department of Energy, this scholarship will be a great opportunity to start my federal career!
What do you most look forward to about your study abroad experience?
I am most looking forward to the food in Japan! I love local Japanese food here in Milwaukee and I am very excited to try authentic Japanese food. One of my hobbies is also riding roller coasters, I plan to visit Tokyo Disney and Univeral theme parks to ride Japanese roller coasters!
What advice do you have for other UWM students who are considering studying abroad?
My advice is to not let the program cost stop you! There are so many scholarships and grants available for students studying abroad; many organizations are eager to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.