LG’s Newton Named a Boren Scholar

Benjamin Newton, an international studies major from La Grange, is one of 10 University of Mississippi students who have been awarded David L. Boren scholarships from the National Security Education Program.

Boren scholars study languages that are of crucial importance to the U.S. government and plan to work in positions vital to national security. Recipients will immerse themselves in the cultures of regions underrepresented in study abroad, such as Africa, Asia, Eurasia, Latin America and the Middle East.

“These awards are a testament to these students’ intellectual curiosity and commitment to the United States government,” said Vivian Ibrahim, director of the UM Office of National Scholarship Advisement.

Newton, a senior, will study Arabic in Morocco. He plans to pursue a career as a special agent with a background in Arabic linguistics for the FBI. As a high schooler, he studied German but was inspired to pursue a new language and enrolled in the Arabic Language Flagship Program.

“In Light Of The Syrian And Middle Eastern Refugee Crisis And Its Connection To Germany And Surrounding Countries, I Decided That Arabic Would Be The Best Choice For Me,” he Said.