Meghan Wilson, a Westerville Central High School junior, has been awarded one of approximately 625 National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) scholarships for 2013-2014. The NSLIY program is funded by the U.S. Department of State and provides merit-based scholarships for eligible high school students to learn less commonly-taught languages in summer and academic-year overseas immersion programs. NSLIY offers overseas study opportunities in Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Persian, Russian, and Turkish.
The NSLI-Y scholarship will enable Wilson to study Arabic in Morocco for the summer. The scholarship covers all program costs for participants including domestic and international travel; tuition and related academic preparation; language testing; educational and cultural activities focused on language learning; orientations; meals; and accommodations, usually with a host family.
Wilson applied for this scholarship in October 2012 by writing essays and providing statements from her parents and teachers, along with an official transcript. In December she was notified that she was a semi-finalist. In January she was interviewed at The Ohio State University by ambassadors of the program, and the final selection was based on enthusiasm for learning, a strong sense of character, the will to succeed, maturity and readiness for a challenging academic and international experience. In addition to her outstanding school work, Wilson is a member of the Interscholastic Equestrian Association team out of Hilliard and she dances at the NorthPointe Studio.
Launched as part of a U.S. government initiative in 2006, NSLI-Y seeks to increase Americans’ capacity to engage with native speakers of critical languages by providing formal instruction and informal language practice in an immersion environment. Educational and cultural activities are designed to promote language learning and build mutual understanding and long-lasting relationships.
The goals of the NSLI-Y program include sparking a life-long interest in foreign languages and cultures, and developing a corps of young Americans with the skills necessary to advance international dialogue in the private, academic or government sectors, and build upon the foundations developed through person-to-person relationships while abroad.
Through her participation in the program, Wilson will serve as a citizen diplomat while developing the skills necessary to be a leader in the global community.
NSLI-Y is administered by American Councils for International Education in cooperation with AFS-USA, American Cultural Exchange Service, Americans Promoting Study Abroad, AMIDEAST, iEARN-USA, Legacy International, and Russian American Foundation. Applications for 2014-2015 NSLI-Y programs are expected to be available at www.nsliforyouth.org in the early fall. For information about U.S. Department of State-sponsored exchange programs, please visit www.exchanges.state.gov.