DesotoExplorer.com / Longaker receives scholarship

Archive for Thursday, June 14, 2007

June 14, 2007

De Soto High School graduate Jacob R. Longaker was one of four Kansas University students named 2007 David L. Boren Undergraduate Scholars by the National Security Education Program, which supports the study of languages and cultures underrepresented in study abroad and critical to national security.

Recipients must commit to a year of service upon their return in the intelligence community or one of the following federal departments: defense, homeland security or state.

A total of 43 KU undergraduates, including the four recipients recently announced, have received Boren NSEP scholarships since 1994 when the first scholarships were awarded. The National Security Act of 1991 established the program, which funds undergraduate and graduate study. The program seeks to educate U.S. citizens, help them understand foreign cultures, strengthen U.S. economic competitiveness and enhance international cooperation and security.

Longaker is majoring in political science with a co-major in international studies. He is a University Honors Program student and plans to minor in Portuguese. He will study on a student-initiated program through Council on International Educational Exchange to Sao Paulo, Brazil, at the Pontifica Universidade Catolica de Sao Paulo. He is a member of National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Brasilian Student Association and the International Relations Council Kansas City. After graduation, Longaker hopes to work in Brazil as a foreign service officer.

He is the son of Reed and Donna Longaker.