CMU senior receives American Councils scholarships

An introduction to novels like The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky and War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy in high school piqued Calvin Older’s interest in Russian culture and history. The Clare, Michigan, senior was inspired by these works to learn Russian by immersing himself in Russian movies and books, creating flashcards, and by practicing with online Russian language partners. 

Older, who is majoring in international relations and minoring in geographic information sciences, made strong language gains through his self-study. He realized that to become fluent, he needed to take his efforts to the next level. In 2024, he applied for and won a Critical Language Scholarship, a program of the U.S. State Department. With funding from the U.S. Government, Older spent eight weeks in Tbilisi, Georgia in formal intensive language study, lived with a Russian-speaking host family, and participated in cultural activities.

“Coming from a rural town and growing up in a family that didn't have the opportunity to travel outside of the United States, living in Tbilisi, where my friends, host family, teachers, and even strangers spoke to me in my target language, was one of the most valuable experiences when it comes to my language study. I found myself becoming more and more confident with speaking Russian and engaging in much more complex topics,” he said.   

Older’s experiences in Georgia expanded his interest in learning more about this former Soviet republic. He will return to Tbilisi for approximately two months this summer to continue his intensive language study through the American Councils (AC) for International Education’s Advanced Russian Language and Area Studies Program (RLASP). He received multiple AC awards to fund his trip, including the Dan E. Davidson Fellowship, an AC Study Abroad Alumni Scholarship, and an AC Title VIII Scholarship. 

“Before going to Georgia for the first time for CLS, I considered myself to be knowledgeable on the country's politics, history, and culture based on the work I did in my classes at CMU,” he said. “However, after my first summer there I only came to realize how little I actually knew and how much more I had to learn. I became more motivated after seeing the political crisis in the country unravel following their elections in the fall. This led me to apply for the RLASP to return and continue to learn about Georgia and how it has developed in the past year.  

Older received support through the application process from Christi Brookes in world languages and cultures and the CMU National Scholarship Program. Approximately 500 U.S. students receive Critical Language Scholarships annually to “learn languages that are strategically important to U.S. national security, economic prosperity, and engagement in the world.”  

Ultimately, Older plans to pursue a career as a Foreign Service Officer (FSO) under the political career track; however, he will first gain experience before taking the challenging FSO test. 

“Upon returning from Georgia, I hope to pursue my master’s in international affairs while under the Pickering Fellowship at George Washington University in Washington D.C.,” he said.