The Boren Scholarship is funded by the National Security Education Program (NSEP) through the U.S. State Department. The national Boren committee closely examines three aspects of each applicant: academic background, and how it is helping prepare them to pursue professional goals; the study abroad program and plan, and how it will enable the student to have significant language and cultural experience; and overall academic and career goals, and how their study abroad experience will enable them to launch into their preferred position in the public sector before they go on to pursue other career goals.