Boren Scholar empowered through studies in Tanzania

WILBERFORCE, Ohio — Danielle Darkenwald stood before her peers, family, friends, and supporters, welcoming them in Swahili: “Karibuni! Kwa Kiswahili habari za asubuhi.” (“Welcome! Good morning!”)  

In a presentation leading up to the International Bazaar in April, Darkenwald shared her experiences studying Swahili in Tanzania and gaining confidence in herself.  

A rising senior Honors College student and Central State University’s first Boren Scholar, Darkenwald spent three months in Tanzania taking courses in Swahili literature, the history of Tanzania, and other languages. The immersive homestay experience introduced Darkenwald to her host family — Mama Hannah, Junior and Noel, 16, and Lucas, 28.  

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The Cleveland native discovered a passion for foreign languages that has opened doors and paths she never knew existed. 

In preparation for traveling to Tanzania, Darkenwald attended the University of Florida’s African Flagship Languages Initiative, a program offered to graduate and undergraduate students to learn Swahili, Wolof, Zulu, French, and Akan/Twi. The domestic portion of the program consists of eight weeks of intensive Swahili learning, beginning in Gainesville, Florida. 

Through it all, Darkenwald had bountiful opportunities to be immersed in diverse cultures. She journeyed to wildlife refuges, experienced awe surrounded by nature, learned to cook Tanzanian cuisine, and formed relationships that will last a lifetime.  

The Boren Award is named after former U.S. Senator from Oklahoma, David L. Boren, who promoted legislation that created the National Security Education Program. Boren scholars and fellows are from diverse fields of study, immersing themselves in the cultures of world regions critical to U.S. interests and which are underrepresented in study abroad programs, including Africa, Asia, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East. 

The David L. Boren Award is a United States Department of Defense initiative with the Defense Language and National Security Education Office. The initiative provides scholarships up to $25,000 for undergraduates and fellowships to graduate students, Darkenwald said. The scholarship amount is determined by the duration of the program or language study proposal. 

The award is highly competitive, with exceptional students from universities across the U.S. earning their spots. In 2022, the Boren Awards named 121 Boren Fellows and 208 Boren Scholars from 246 graduate and 458 undergraduate applications, according to https://www.borenawards.org/. 

Darkenwald, who has also learned Arabic, said Swahili is primarily spoken in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, but it is used through the East African region. Her lessons were not limited to the classroom. Since applying to be a Boren Scholar, Darkenwald said she has become more confident in herself by pushing through self-doubt to excel in her studies.  

"My instructor noticed our growth and our linguistic potential before I realized it. I recall a conversation with Mwalimu Happiness we had after class one day. In this conversation, I was telling her about my language goals. I told her, ‘I see myself passing this course with at least a C,’ (even though) I hadn’t received anything else than an A in my college career thus far. She smiled, shook her head, and said, ‘Why not an A?’” 

When Darkenwald earned her A, the instructor reminded her of the earlier conversation.  

“I hope by sharing this, I can encourage future candidates to believe in themselves, even when the journey seems difficult,” she said.  

Darkenwald has earned and received many achievements and awards, including the Upper Classman Scholarship, Presidential Scholarship, honors certificates (2021 and 2022), excellence in Arabic Languages and Cultures Award, and the Outstanding Scholar in Pre-law Award. She has been a Dayton Urban Young Life mentor; a part of the NAACP; a council student representative for diversity, equity, and inclusion; and a member of the Pre-Law Society. Darkenwald has been an Honors student at Central State since freshman year, maintaining a 4.0 every academic year, and has completed internships at the American Red Cross, Cleveland Municipal Court, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 

Her long-term career goal is to become an attorney for the Department of Justice with a focus on international law. “I am optimistic that specializing in international law will lead me in the direction of becoming a legal attaché, also known as a legat — an FBI agent in charge of an international office in a country outside the United States,” Darkenwald said.