Critical Language Scholarship Program | News and Stories

News and Stories

2020 Finalists and Alternates

Congratulations to the finalists and alternates for the 2020 CLS Program, representing students from 306 institutions across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico! Although the summer 2020 program has been suspended, we applaud the commitment of the students who prepared applic…

CLS Program News — May 01, 2020


Sydney Ward

Sydney Ward is an alumna of the 2019 CLS Arabic program in Amman, Jordan. She’s a recent graduate of the University of Washington with a B.A. in International Studies and Near East Studies. She currently works at Trader Joe’s while she considers her career options, and hopes to use her Arabic knowl…

Alumni Profile — April 30, 2020


Stephanie Downing

Stephanie Downing is an alumna of the 2019 CLS Hindi program in Jaipur, India. She’s a recent graduate of Marymount University with an undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice and minor in Forensic and Criminal Investigations. She currently works in law enforcement in Washington, D.C. In her free t…

Alumni Profile — April 30, 2020


Sofia Velasquez

Sofia Velasquez is an alumna of the 2019 CLS Turkish program in Baku, Azerbaijan. She recently graduated from Portland State University, having majored in women’s studies and minored in communication studies. She now works for the Oregon State Bar, where she serves as a member of the Advisory Commi…

Alumni Profile — April 30, 2020