UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State undergraduate David Anderson earned a 2026 Critical Language Scholarship and will study Russian during an intensive eight-week study abroad.
Anderson, of Atlanta, Georgia, said he’s taken Russian courses since his first semester at Penn State and enjoyed learning the language enough to pursue a major in it. This semester he became a Paterno Fellow, and the scholarship will help him achieve his goal to write a thesis in Russian.
“I’m honored to represent Penn State as a Critical Language Scholar this summer,” Anderson said. “CLS is an incredible opportunity to improve my language skills and develop intercultural communication skills in Eastern Europe.”
He said he is interested in attending graduate school and is currently exploring internationally focused careers such as the U.S. Foreign Service or a humanitarian nongovernmental organization.
Anderson is a Schreyer Scholar and also pursuing a major in international politics and a minor in European studies. He is a cadet with Penn State Army ROTC Nittany Lion Battalion. He also is part of the community service club ServeState, Russian Studies Club, the Conversation Partner Program through Penn State Global, and serves as a public speaking mentor in the College of the Liberal Arts Undergraduate Speaking Center.
Critical Language Scholarship recipients spend eight to 10 weeks studying languages deemed critical to national security and economic prosperity. The program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and developed in partnership with local institutions in countries where these languages are commonly spoken.
To learn about the Critical Language Scholarship and application support, visit Undergraduate Research and Fellowships Mentoring (URFM). URFM can help students navigate the application process and prepare the required short answers and essays, but there is no required University involvement.
Part of Penn State Undergraduate Education, URFM empowers students to engage in inquiry and discovery by connecting them with research opportunities, guiding them through the research landscape, and supporting them in pursuing nationally and internationally competitive fellowships.