Elizabethtown College Student Laura Cardona Named Critical Language Studies Scholar

Elizabethtown College International Business and Political Science major Laura Cardona ’23 has been granted a Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) to study Mandarin through the U. S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, CLS Program.

This highly competitive, prestigious scholarship is a U.S. government initiative for expanding the number of Americans studying and mastering critical foreign languages. Each summer, CLS provides rigorous academic instruction in fifteen languages that are crucial to America’s national security and economic prosperity.

“I am honored to receive the Critical Language Scholarship through the U.S. Department of State to study Mandarin,” Cardona, who is fluent in English, Spanish, and proficient in French said. “I have always enjoyed learning new languages and finding the connections between language and culture.”

Cardona’s studies will take place through a pilot virtual initiative called CLS Spark, a program supported by the American Councils for International Education. Designed during the pandemic to leverage best practices in online language learning, CLS Spark allows American students to study critical languages virtually when they may not have access to language learning on their campuses or the ability to travel overseas.

Through immersing themselves in the language and gaining cultural experiences alongside international communities, Cardona and the fellow members of her CLS cohort will improve their mastery of all four modalities in these languages (listening, speaking, reading, and writing).

Cardona’s interest in the CLS program was developed through both her studies at Etown, as well as her interdisciplinary approach toward gaining experience outside of the classroom by completing five internships, each in different sectors. These opportunities have included serving as an ETF & Index Investing Summer Analyst at the financial institution, BlackRock in New York City, as well as interning in Congress through the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) Internship program where Cardona engaged with diplomats and policy experts in D.C.

“It was through my experience in the CHCI program that I saw firsthand the importance of building understanding between the U.S. and China,” Cardona said. “Learning Mandarin through the CLS program will prepare me to contribute to citizen diplomacy and facilitate understanding in my future vocation.”

The strong student-mentor bonds found on Etown’s campus have encouraged Cardona to pursue selective opportunities such as CLS and her various internships.

“I chose to come to Etown and major in both International Business and Political Science because I am fascinated by the intersections between business and policy,” said Cardona, who is also a Stamps Scholar and member of the Etown Momentum and Honors programs. “At Etown, I have been fortunate to be mentored by several professors – within both of my degree programs.

“Professors at Etown genuinely care about their students,” she said. “I have found that when I have a goal, no matter how far-reaching it may seem, I can rely on my professors for advice and support throughout the process.”

Cardona’s selection marks the second time that an Etown student has been named a CLS Scholar, the first being Tyler Butkus ’17 in 2016.