Lorin Bucur ’26 wins prestigious Boren Scholarship
Lorin Bucur ’26, a student from Berwin, Illinois who studies Chinese, political science, economics, and international political economy at Carthage, has been awarded a prestigious Boren Scholarship to study Indonesian.
Boren Scholarships are part of the U.S. Government’s National Security Education Program, which aims to enhance national security and economic competitiveness by increasing critical-need foreign language skills, cultural understanding, and regional expertise.
In her Boren Scholarship application, Lorin noted that the Indo-Pacific region, where Indonesia is located, encompasses “60 percent of the world economy and two-thirds of global economic growth. As…the third-largest economy, the fourth-largest country by population, and the largest economy in the Indo-Pacific, Indonesia emerges as a critical partner to the United States in advancing our regional national security concerns.” Indeed, learning Indonesian and understanding Indonesian culture is critical to US diplomatic and business interests in the region.
Lorin will add Indonesian to her skills in Mandarin Chinese, which she gained in classes at Carthage and in a semester-long study abroad program in Taiwan. She has also taken part in study tours to Singapore (2023), Taiwan, Hong Kong, and South Korea (2024), and Cuba (2025). She will travel to Taiwan and the Philippines in 2026 with a study tour led by professors Yan Wang and Wenjie Sun.
On campus, Lorin has been a leader in Student Government and Model United Nations and has served as the study abroad fellow.
Boren Scholarships are awarded in a rigorous, merit-based, national competition. Lorin distinguished herself with her dedication to learning critical languages and studying the cultures of the countries where these languages are spoken, while also expressing a strong desire to engage in a career in public service with the U.S. Government after she graduates. She is particularly interested in joining the diplomatic corps.
Professor Greg Baer, chair of the Modern Languages Department and campus advisor for the Boren Scholarship Program, says of Lorin: “She stands out as an articulate, passionate, and curious leader. It is no surprise that these qualities propelled her to selection in this very competitive, national scholarship competition.”
Sponsoring Department, Office, or Organization:
Department of Modern Languages