Chinese Flagship News

Two WKU students have been awarded David L. Boren Scholarships that will fund a year studying abroad.

Tyler Prochazka of Newton, Kansas, will study in China, and Zachary Redmond of Owensboro will study in Jordan. This is the first time two WKU students have received scholarships in the same year.

Prochazka, a fourth-year student with a double major in international affairs and Asian religions and cultures, is the son of Douglas Prochazka. He is a student in the Honors College at WKU and in the Chinese Flagship Program and will use the scholarship to fund his Flagship Capstone Year in Tianjin, China, at Tianjin Normal University beginning this fall.

Prochazka has studied in China on a Critical Language Scholarship and earned a Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship to fund participation in the Princeton in Beijing program. He is a member of the WKU Forensics Team, Young Americans for Liberty, $100 Solution Project and Amnesty International and a writer for the WKU student newspaper, the College Heights Herald.

“After graduating, I plan to apply for a Fulbright to study in Taiwan, in addition to various graduate programs related to economics and China,” he said.

“Tyler is the third Chinese Flagship student to receive a Boren Scholarship,” Melinda Edgerton, coordinator of the Chinese Flagship, said. “This generous award not only supports him in his Capstone Year in China, but also connects him with a network of Boren alumni and support for seeking employment within the federal government. Tyler has had his sights set on this award for several years, and we are pleased to see that his dedication to both language and international affairs was recognized.”

Redmond, a second-year student with a double major in international affairs and Arabic, is the son of Robert and Kelly Redmond. He came to WKU with four years experience as a U.S. Marine and plans to pursue a career in the federal government. He will be participating in the Council on International Educational Exchange program in Amman, Jordan.

Khaldoun Almousily, instructor of Arabic & Translation Studies at WKU and Redmond’s mentor, called the news incredible.

“I am from Jordan and I know that he will enjoy learning Arabic there as well as the field trips to Petra, Dead Sea and the Red Sea,” he said. “I also think his life-changing scholarship will give him both the knowledge and experience to help him reach a high level of language proficiency.”

Both students worked with the Office of Scholar Development in preparing their applications.

“OSD has provided me invaluable support the past four years in applying for what seems like infinite scholarships,” Prochazka said. “I cannot express how grateful I am that they have helped me successfully obtain nationally competitive scholarships. I certainly could not have made it through this process without them.”

Melinda Grimsley-Smith, OSD’s coordinator of international scholarships, said the Boren Scholarship “is a great fit for students aiming for careers in the federal government and interested in studying languages in less common study abroad destinations. Tyler and Zach are going to make incredible gains in their linguistic as well as cultural proficiency over the next academic year and we can’t wait to hear about their experiences.”

The National Security Education Program’s Boren Awards program provides 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 the United States. In exchange for funding, Boren Award recipients agree to work in the federal government for at least one year.

The awards are named for University of Oklahoma President David Boren, who, as a U.S. senator, was the principal author of legislation that created the NSEP.

About the Office of Scholar Development: The Office of Scholar Development is committed to helping WKU students in all majors and degree programs develop the vision, experience and skills to be independent, engaged scholars. OSD welcomes the opportunity to work with students interested in nationally competitive scholarships. Contact: OSD, (270) 745-5043.

Contact: Melinda Grimsley-Smith, (270) 745-5043