A UNC grad student and a Carolina alumna have been awarded the National Security Education Program’s David L. Boren Fellowship.

Christine Kim and Julia Tenyotkin were awarded the Boren Fellowship, which supports a field of study – particularly languages – identified as vital to national security.

The scholarship is valued at $30,000 and is awarded to graduate students in exchange that the students pursue a career working in the federal government – specifically departments like defense, homeland security or other intelligence agencies after graduation.

Mary Floyd-Wilson, director of Carolina’s Office of Distinguished Scholarships, said in release that the Boren Fellowship is vital for students to study topics that are important to national security.

“The Boren Fellowship is among the few awards available to fund deep pursuit of language study for graduate students, and the award underlines the commitment of both the federal government and the Institute of International Education to educate our country’s citizens,” Floyd-Wilson said.

Kim is currently a doctoral student in health policy and management in UNC’s Gillings School of Global Public Health. She graduated with a degree in History from University of California-Berkeley in 2007 and earned a Master’s Degree in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University in 2011.

The Boren Fellowship will allow Kim to travel to Uganda where she plans to complete a project focused on improving community-based learning, according to the university.

Tenyotkin graduated from UNC in 2012 with a Global Studies and Peace, War and Defense double major and a Chinese minor. She is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in International Affairs at Monterey Institute of International Studies.

The Boren Fellowship will enable Tenyotkin to study Mandarin in China where she plans to complete a project focuses on understanding the South China Sea conflict.

Related Stories
‹
UNC Student Representatives Share Successes, Farewells with Board of Trustees
UNC Student Body President Taliajah Vann and Graduate Student President Theodore Nollert shared highlights of their tenures last Thursday.
UNC Students Call to Raise Graduate Student Pay
Facing an affordability crisis in Chapel Hill, graduate students are calling for a change. UNC’s graduate and professional student government leaders are stepping up their efforts to raise the graduate student pay. 
'The O Zone': Inside UNC Baseball's Season-Saving Super Regional Comeback
Hear from the heroes of the day as they describe the Diamond Heels' game-winning rally in the ninth inning of the NCAA Super Regionals.
Owen Hull's Walk-Off Delivers UNC Baseball to College World Series
Owen Hull’s walk-off hit in the bottom of the ninth helped the Diamond Heels overcome a 3-2 deficit entering the inning and win 4-3, punching a thrilling ticket to the Men’s College World Series in Omaha next weekend. 𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐍 𝐇𝐔𝐋𝐋 𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐔𝐒 𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐓𝐎 𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐇𝐀 Carolina walks it off!! 🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/021OXn7CKS — Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) […]
UNC Baseball in the 2026 NCAA Super Regionals: How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Start Times
The Diamond Heels will host an NCAA Super Regional at Boshamer Stadium for the third consecutive year this weekend. UNC will face USC in a three-game series, with the winner punching its ticket to the Men’s College World Series in Omaha. If you aren’t attending the games in person, here’s how to follow along at […]
DeCaro's Gem Helps UNC Baseball Force NCAA Super Regional Game 3 vs. USC
Jason DeCaro threw a complete-game shutout to help the Diamond Heels beat USC 4-0 in Game 2 of the NCAA Super Regionals at Boshamer Stadium Saturday. Carolina has now forced a winner-take-all Game 3 to be played Sunday. 𝐍𝐎 𝐐𝐔𝐈𝐓 𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐀 😤 We keep fighting! Do or die game at the Bosh tomorrow!!#GoHeels x @WellsFargo […]
Grand Slam Dooms UNC Baseball vs. USC in Game 1 of Super Regional
USC scored five runs in the top of the sixth inning – including four on a grand slam – to flip Friday’s NCAA Super Regional Game 1 and beat the Diamond Heels 9-5 in Chapel Hill. “That was a tough one,” said head coach Scott Forbes afterward. “You want to try to grab that first […]
UNC Men's Basketball to Host Arkansas, Women to Host LSU in 2026 ACC-SEC Challenge
The matchups have been set for both the UNC men’s and women’s basketball programs in the upcoming ACC-SEC Challenge: the men will host Arkansas on Tuesday, Dec. 1 at the Smith Center, while the women will host LSU on Wednesday, Dec. 2 at Carmichael Arena. ACC/SEC challenge is set 🗓️ pic.twitter.com/AWzBSN1Cbv — Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) […]
The Morning News: Glenwood Elementary Closing, Orange County Finalizes Budget, UNC Baseball Hosts Super Regional
In today's news: the CHCCS school board votes to shut down Glenwood Elementary after the upcoming school year.
Ahead of NCAA Super Regionals, UNC Baseball Fueled by Disappointment of 2025
It had been 24 hours since his team’s season had ended in heartbreaking fashion, and Scott Forbes was already laying the groundwork for another successful year. The UNC baseball head coach hosted a sought-after transfer portal recruit in Chapel Hill a day after losing to Arizona in Game 3 of the Chapel Hill Super Regional […]
›