WASHINGTON, D.C. - Isabelle Barnard of South Londonderry and a 2012 graduate of Long Trail School, has been awarded one of over 600 National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) scholarships for 2012-2013.

The NSLI-Y program is funded by the U.S. Department of State and provides merit-based scholarships for eligible high school students to learnless commonly-taught languages in summer and academic-year overseas immersion programs. The NSLI-Y scholarship enables Barnard to study Turkish language in Turkey for six weeks this summer.

The scholarship covers all program costs for participants including domestic and international travel; tuition and related academic preparation; language testing; educational and cultural activities focused on language learning; orientations; meals; and accommodations, commonly with a host family.

Launched as part of a U.S. Government initiative in 2006, NSLI-Y seeks to increase Americans' capacity to engage with native speakers of critical languages by providing formal and informal language learning and practice and by promoting mutual understanding through educational and cultural activities. NSLI-Y offers overseas study opportunities to high school students for summer and academic-year language learning in Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Hindi, Korean, Persian (Tajik), Russian, and Turkish. The goals of the NSLI-Y program include sparking a life-long interest in foreign languages and cultures, and developing a corps of

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young Americans with the skills necessary to advance international dialogue. Through her participation in the program, Barnard will develop the skills necessaryto be a leader in the global community.

Applications for 2013-2014 NSLI-Y programs will be available at www.nsliforyouth.org in the early fall.