Critical Language Scholarship Program | Nationally Competitive Awards

The Critical Language Scholarship Program provides fully-funded intensive language instruction and cultural immersion in host countries during the summer for up to ten weeks. Languages include Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian and many others.

Contact emily.sallee@uky.edu if you plan to apply.

Deadline: November 2025

Award Recipients

Award Recipients
	Shria Holla 2024 Mathematical economics major Shria Holla received a Critical Language Scholarship to study Hindi at the American Institute of Indian Studies in Jaipur, India. Read more in UKNow.
	Anna Stockstill 2024 Political science and environmental and sustainability studies major Anna Stockstill received a Critical Language Scholarship to study Mandarin Chinese at National Cheng Kung University in Tainan, Taiwan. Read more in UKNow.
	Ellen Williams 2024 Agricultural and medical biotechnology major Ellen Williams received a Critical Language Scholarship to study Bahasa Indonesia at Universitas Negeri Malang in Malang, Indonesia. Read more in UKNow.
	Meg Connor 2023 Meg Connor, a 2023 international studies, modern and classical languages, literatures and cultures & Lewis Honors College graduate, was accepted to the CLS (Critical Language Scholarship) Spark Program to study Arabic. CLS Spark is a virtual initiative for U.S. undergraduate students to learn languages essential to America’s engagement with the world.
	Michael Di Girolamo 2021 Foreign language and international economics and international studies major Michael Di Girolamo received a Critical Language Scholarship for summer 2021. He will study Chinese virtually through Changchun Humanities and Sciences College in Changchun, China. This is Michael's second time receiving the Critical Language Scholarship. He completed a virtual program during the fall 2020 semester, studying Chinese through Shaanxi Normal University in Xi’an, China. Read more in UKNow.
	Ryan Hassel 2021 Political Science senior Ryan Hassel was accepted to the Critical Language Scholarship Program to study Japanese virtually through Okayama University.
	Ellie Johnson 2021 Anthropology senior Ellie Johnson was accepted to the Critical Language Scholarship Program. She will study Mandarin Chinese virtually through Changchun Humanities and Sciences College in Changchun, China.
	Mihir Kale 2021 Political Science major Mihir Kale received a Critical Language Scholarship for summer 2021. He will study Swahili virtually through the MS Training Centre for Development Cooperation in Arusha, Tanzania. Read more in UKNow.
	Michael Di Girolamo 2020 Foreign Language and International Economics/Chinese and International Studies major Michael Di Girolamo received a Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) to study Chinese. Read more in UKNow.
	Anna Wagner 2018 Modern and Classical Languages/Russian Studies and Political Science freshman Anna Wagner was awarded a Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) to study Russian. Read more in UKNow.
	Catherine Cornelius 2017 Japan Studies major Catherine Cornelius was awarded a Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) to study Japanese in Hikone, Japan. Read more in UKNow.
	Chelsea Cutright 2017 Chelsea Cutright, a doctoral student in Cultural Anthropology, was awarded a Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) to study Swahili in Arusha, Tanzania. Read more in UKNow.
	Christopher Maynard 2017 Biology major Christopher Maynard was awarded a Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) to study Chinese in Changchun, China. Read more in UKNow.
	Amaris Wade 2017 Foreign Language and International Economics/Chinese Studies major Amaris Wade was awarded a Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) to study Chinese in Changchun, China. Read more in UKNow.
	Lee Clark 2016 Lee Clark, a graduate student in the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce, was awarded a Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) to study Russian. Read more in UKNow.
	Lauren Copeland 2016 Lauren Copeland, a Gender and Women's Studies doctoral student, was awarded a Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) to study Arabic. Read more in UKNow.
	Ruth Dike 2016 M. Ruth Dike, an Anthropology doctoral student, was awarded a Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) to study Arabic. Read more in UKNow.
	Faiyad Mannan 2016 Faiyad Mannan, a student in the College of Medicine, was awarded a Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) to study Japanese. Read more in UKNow.
	Bridget Nicholas 2016 Bridget Nicholas, a Chinese Language and Literature and International Studies student, was awarded a Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) to study Chinese. Read more in UKNow.
	Shelley Zhou 2015 History major Shelley Zhou was awarded a Critical Language Scholarship.
	Jordie Gamble 2014 Marketing and Media Arts and Studies major Jordie Gamble was awarded a Critical Language Scholarship.
	Naomi Hayes 2014 Biology major Naomi Hayes was awarded a Critical Language Scholarship.
	Lydia Roll 2014 Anthropology major Lydia Roll was awarded a Critical Language Scholarship.
	Wade Wilson 2014 Diplomacy and International Commerce graduate student Wade Wilson was awarded a Critical Language Scholarship.
	Geoffrey Banta 2013 Accounting major Geoffrey Banta was awarded a Critical Language Scholarship.
	Meredith King 2013 Communication major Meredith King was awarded a Critical Language Scholarship.
	Lydia Roll 2013 Anthropology major Lydia Roll was awarded a Critical Language Scholarship.
	Nick Grisanti 2012 Diplomacy and International Commerce graduate student Nick Grisanti was awarded a Critical Language Scholarship.
	Sean Brennan 2011 International Studies major Sean Brennan was awarded a Critical Language Scholarship.
	Sharon Mills 2011 Linguistics major Sharon Mills was awarded a Critical Language Scholarship.
	Amber Davis 2010 International Studies major Amber Davis was awarded a Critical Language Scholarship.
	Ashley Meredith 2010 International Studies major Ashley Meredith was awarded a Critical Language Scholarship.
	Marcela Peterson 2009 Anthropology major Marcela Peterson was awarded a Critical Language Scholarship.
	Casey Poe 2009 Diplomacy and International Commerce graduate student Casey Poe was awarded a Critical Language Scholarship.
	Meagan Todd 2009 Geography major Meagan Todd was awarded a Critical Language Scholarship.
	Brenden Conrad 2008 Diplomacy and International Commerce graduate student Brenden Conrad was awarded a Critical Language Scholarship.
	Jordann Sullivan 2008 Political Science major Jordann Sullivan was awarded a Critical Language Scholarship.
	Rachel Ulrich 2008 Anthropology major Rachel Ulrich was awarded a Critical Language Scholarship.