USD Senior and Chamberlain Native, Grace DuVall, Earns Prestigious Scholarship for Persian Studies in Tajikistan

Grace DuVall, a senior at the University of South Dakota (USD), is among the 500 finalists for the 2024 Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program. She was chosen from over 5,000 applicants across the U.S. DuVall, who was an alternate last year, is thrilled to be a scholarship recipient.

The CLS Program, funded by the U.S. government, is a rigorous language and cultural immersion program. It enables students to study one of 14 critical languages abroad for eight to ten weeks. DuVall plans to enhance her Persian language skills and learn more about Tajikistan and western Asian culture.

DuVall is a double major in international studies and anthropology at USD. She has held various leadership roles, including Honors president and Student Government Association senator. She is also part of the President’s Senior Leadership Institute and Rotaract. DuVall attributes her success in securing this opportunity to her professors and scholarships at USD.

Originally from Chamberlain, South Dakota, DuVall appreciates the support from her professors and peers during the application process. She highlighted the USD Farber Fund scholarship, which funded her beginner Persian studies in Arizona, as a key factor in her application.

DuVall's long-term goal is to become an anthropology professor, teaching about cultures, religions, and music. She expects that the Persian education from the CLS Program will be crucial for her career. She also anticipates that her exposure to Persian culture and language will enrich her future anthropology lectures and expand her worldview.

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