2012 scholarship winner explores dance, politics
Third-year dance performance and political science student Kathryn Miles is one of 161 undergraduates in the country to receive the prestigious Boren Scholarship. The $20,000 award will take her on her second trip to China this fall to study Mandarin and Chinese culture at Najing University.
Boren Scholars come from various cultures and must express an interest in national security and foreign languages, according to the organization’s website. The award was founded to send students to less commonly traveled countries for intensive language study. After fulfilling scholarship requirements, students have to work in the federal government for at least a year in an area of national security.
Miles’ proposal for the Boren stemmed from her interest in public affairs and educating the American public about Chinese culture. Earlier this year Miles completed an independent study dance research project entitled “Politics of Dance” under the guidance of dance department chair Susan Anderson. She analyzed two ballets produced by the Chinese government during the country’s cultural revolution and compared them with dance in the United States today.
“I am interested in merging political science and dance. I wanted to explore political culture of dance in China specifically during the Cultural Revolution,” Miles said. “I feel that it is vital to involve the public more in foreign policy and increasing awareness of that.”
Last summer Miles went to Chengdu, China, as a part of a study abroad program. After returning, the study abroad office encouraged her to apply for the Boren. Miles feels the culture shock she experienced last summer has prepared her for a challenging year ahead.
“The experience gave me confidence that I can do it, that I can go away for a year,” Miles said. “It solidified my interest in going back. I was so excited when I found out (I had won). I called my mom and started crying.”
Miles spent several months working with the Sarah Langston, who is the advisor to the Boren Scholarship at USC, and other university staff from the Office of Fellowships and Scholar Programs to help tailor her essays to the Boren requirements. Despite the many revisions of her statements of purpose, Miles continued to work on perfecting her application.
“I knew when I began that it was would a big task to do it. I honestly spent more time working on the Boren application than I did for some of my classes in the fall semester,” Miles said.
Miles said she used the process as a way to confirm her career path.
“Through applying for it I know more of what I want to do,” Miles said. “I was able to talk to more of my professors and get to know them throughout the process.”
Miles has to take a language test before and after the trip to measure how much she has learned. While in China, she would like to continue the study of dance as an active participant.