Tia Ayele, a graduate of and a junior at the University of Georgia, has been awarded a David L. Boren Undergraduate Scholarship and gets to spend the next academic year in a study abroad program.
The scholarship enables recipients to focus on languages and fields of study in geographic areas considered critical to the interests of the United States. In accepting, the scholars agree to seek subsequent work in the federal government, and Ayele has her eyes set on the State Department.
Ayele, who was born and raised in Smoke Rise and is of Ethiopian origin, is an Honors student studying for a bachelor’s degree in international affairs. She told Tucker Patch that she will spend ten months in Ethiopia, taking courses in Amharic and Arabic as well as political science and international relations.
“I feel so honored to have received the Boren Scholarship,” said Ayele in a press release. “The scholarship’s emphasis on national security makes it a perfect fit for my academic interests and career goals, as I’m extremely interested in working to secure U.S. national interests in East Africa in some capacity in the future.”
Ayele is involved with UGA’s Student Government Association, Habitat for Humanity, Ethiopian Student Association, the Roosevelt Institute and the Center for Undergraduate Research. She is also associate editor for the Georgia Political Review.
Reached by phone at Atlanta’s airport as she boarded a plane to Washington D.C., Ayele sounded both calm and excited. Referring to her upcoming trip to Africa, she said, “I’m leaving in October. It should be interesting!”
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