2 Summerlin Academy students receive study abroad scholarships | Arts & Culture

Bartow, Florida -- Cadet Joey Kilpatrick and Cadet Nicholas Taylor are the proud recipients of the National Security Language Initiative for Youth’s full merit-based scholarships to study abroad in the summer of 2012.

NSLI-Y, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, provides eligible high school students the opportunity to learn less commonly taught languages in summer and academic-year overseas immersion programs. Last year only 17 students in the state of Florida were awarded with these scholarships.

Cadet Kilpatrick will be studying in China, while Cadet Taylor is in Russia.

The summer programs last for up to eight weeks. During that time, students are enrolled in language classes and are allowed to participate in a variety of cultural activities designed to enhance language skills. Most programs include opportunities for community service.

The National Security Language Initiative for Youth launched in 2006, is a part of a broader government-wide presidential initiative that prepares American youth to be leaders in a global world. The hope is that by sparking a lifetime interest in foreign languages and cultures, the youth of today will be armed with the necessary linguistic skills and cultural knowledge to promote international dialogue and support American engagement abroad.