Twelve WKU students -- Olivia Blackmon, Megan Cole, Molly Katherine Cornett, Evie Dukes, Autumn Eichhorn, Allison Francis, Ralphy Gardner, Kerby Gilstrap, Heather Keen, Kierigan McEvoy, Lindy Sipes and Daniel Vuleta -- have been selected this spring as Semifinalists for 2022 Critical Language Scholarships. The Critical Language Scholarship Program (CLS), a program of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, is an intensive overseas language and cultural immersion program for American undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities. Applications are evaluated in two rounds by a nationwide community of university language teachers, study abroad professionals, and fellowships advisors. Semifinalists are designated after the first round and Finalists are offered awards after the second round of selection; once they accept, they become CLS recipients. Recipients spend eight to 10 weeks abroad in intensive language instruction and structured cultural enrichment designed to promote rapid language gains and cultural proficiency.