Keegan Farrington and Will O’Neill: Explore Africa and Europe thanks to the Bolen Prize
From the vibrant culture of Latvia to the warm hospitality of Tanzania, University of Maine alumni Keegan Farrington ’20, ’24G and Will O’Neil ’20, ’24G will enjoy the immersive experience funded by the Boren Prize. I thoroughly enjoyed the unique opportunity to spend a year abroad.
The National Security Education Program’s Boren Awards equip U.S. undergraduate and graduate students to build critical language skills and gain international expertise through immersive experiences in regions critical to national security. provide funding. In return, recipients commit to at least one year of service in the federal government, applying their insights and skills in national service.
As Boren Fellows, Farrington and O’Neill chose to travel to Latvia and Tanzania, respectively. Their stay abroad not only provided them with the opportunity to strengthen their language skills, but also allowed them to make connections that deepened their awareness of other cultures. Whether it was building friendships through community involvement or spending time with host families, both found that these experiences shaped them both personally and professionally.
Mr. Farrington travels to Latvia
Keegan Farrington
A native of Lincoln, Maine, Farrington originally attended the University of Maine for his undergraduate studies, earning a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science. Attracted by the focus on security and foreign policy, he returned to Japan in 2021 to pursue a master’s degree in global policy at the School of Policy and International Affairs (SPIA).
Farrington said Mayne has provided him with many opportunities. I gained valuable experience as a graduate assistant and funded my master’s degree. He credits his success to Assistant Professor Nicholas Misinski, whose exceptional feedback and advice on his writing contributed greatly to his academic and professional success, and to his mentorship, who provided valuable guidance, networking, and inspiration. I credit mentors like SPIA Executive Director Jim Settele for giving me this.
SPIA funding enabled him to intern at a think tank in Washington, DC, while the Office of Major Scholarships (OMS) led him to win the prestigious Bolen Fellowship, immersing himself in Latvia and pursuing his dreams of living in Europe. I was able to make it happen.
“In addition to the Boren application, OMS has helped me become a better professional writer and prepared me for future applications and similar writing,” he said.
Preparing for the trip to Latvia was stressful for Farrington, who had not yet spent much time abroad. But during his internship in Washington, D.C., he learned to trust his adaptability. Upon arrival, he found that Latvia’s vibrant culture, rich in dance, song, and festivals, had striking similarities to his own.
“Just because we come from very different geographical areas, speak different languages and lead different lives doesn’t mean we’re all alien to each other,” he said. . “We are more similar than different.”
A highlight of Farrington’s stay in Latvia was volunteering at a speaking club for Ukrainian refugees, helping participants practice their English skills. In return, many people were kind enough to practice their Russian with him after the meeting, share stories, and form lasting friendships.
Farrington has one word to describe her experience in Latvia: “Amazing.”
“If I could leave here today and do it all over again, I would,” he said. “At times it seemed hard and overwhelming, but I never once doubted the path I took to get there. For anyone given the chance, it’s a must-do. That’s it.
O’Neill travels to Tanzania
Will O’Neill
A native of Orono, Maine, O’Neal transferred to the University of Maine as an undergraduate and then chose to pursue a graduate degree here. Like Farrington, O’Neill earned a master’s degree in global policy through SPIA.
“Unlike many other schools I considered during both my undergraduate and graduate career, Umain provided me with a unique space to pursue all of my different educational interests. “It encouraged me to draw connections between the learning I had undertaken across different universities and programs,” he says. Said.
Mr. O’Neill credits his academic success to Mr. Settele of the Maine School of Business, SPIA lecturers William Farrell (Libra Professor of International Relations), Seth Singleton (Professor of Political Science), and Richard Powell (Leadership Studies). He credits his mentors across various faculties, including Adjunct Lecturer) and Peter Madigan (Senior Lecturer). Leadership Studies and Public Service Ryan LaRochelle, Associate Professor Emily Haig, Associate Professor of Political Science and Honors Rob Glover, Political Science Chair Mark Brewer, and Honors College Associate Dean Melissa Radenheim. . One of my mentors, Kenneth Hillas, an adjunct professor of international affairs, was particularly influential.
“To him for pushing me intellectually by challenging me and my classmates to communicate more clearly while thinking about politics, culture, identity, and history in more critical and nuanced ways. I was grateful,” he said.
O’Neill joined the African Flagship Language Initiative as a Boren Fellow. The initiative required two months of intensive language and culture study at the University of Florida. This equates to one academic year of coursework.
After rigorous preparation, O’Neill traveled to Tanzania, where he was immersed in Swahili and welcomed into a host family. Over four months, he cooked with his host mother, played and studied with his host’s younger siblings, and visited their extended family to share stories about their home, community, and experiences. I spent a lot of time there.
“It was amazing to see such an intimate and personal window into the authentic daily life of a family in Tanzania,” he said.
Building on his transformative experience in Tanzania, O’Neill’s academic foundation at the University of Maine proved instrumental in shaping his professional path.
“My time at the University of Maine helped me develop a really valuable ability to look at problems from multiple different disciplinary lenses and perspectives at once,” O’Neill said. “The difference this interdisciplinary training has made in my life has been significant, not only helping me receive the Boren Fellowship that sent me to Tanzania last year, but also helping me connect with other recent graduates entering the field. It also helped differentiate me from the workforce.”
Following his experience overseas, Mr. O’Neal is working to meet IBM’s service requirements as a federal contractor. Inspired by Tanzanian culture, which values community and respect, he plans to integrate these values into his work and daily life.
Apply for the Boren Award
Applications for the Bollen Prize are currently being accepted. For more information about the awards, visit borenawards.org.
On October 31st, Sarah Chow, application and selection specialist for the IIE Boren Award Program, will visit Maine. OMS will host a Boren information session with Mr. Chow in Room 300 of the Memorial Union Career Center from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. Students can register here and can also set up a 15-minute meeting with Chow on Oct. 31 by emailing nives.dalbowheeler@maine.edu.
Contact: Samantha Perry, samantha.j.perry@maine.edu
