ARLINGTON, Va. - Three Marine officers were recently selected to participate in The Olmsted Scholar Program which offers educational grants for two years of graduate study in a foreign language. It typically consists of one year of language training after which participants can spend two years immersed in a country that speaks that language while working toward a graduate degree. 1st Lt. Ruth S. Kelty, Capt. Michael Walls and Capt. James R. Armstrong were selected for the Olmsted Scholar Class of 2014 along with 15 other participants from the Army, Navy and Air Force.
Kelty of Woodleaf, N.C., graduated from Cornell University in 2009. She is currently serving as the Engineer Operations Company Commander for Marine Wing Support Squadron 172 in Okinawa, Japan. She will be studying Portuguese before going to Maputo, Mozambique.
Walls is a native of Phoenix, Ariz., and graduated from Arizona State University in 2004. He is currently serving as the platoon commander for 2nd Brigade, 5th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company in Okinawa, Japan. He will be studying Russian before going to St. Petersburg, Russia.
Armstrong is from Johnson City, Tenn., and is a 2006 graduate of the United States Naval Academy. He is currently serving as an instructor for The Infantry Officer Course in Quantico, Va. He will be learning Serbian/Croatian before going to Podgorica, Montenegro.
According to The George and Carol Olmsted Foundation Website, Olmsted Scholar candidate finalists are selected by screening boards within their respective service with final selection of scholars, and the designation of their location for overseas study being made by the board of directors of the foundation. Olmsted Scholars enroll as full-time students and study in the language of their host country while interacting with the residents of the countries in which they are living. They are expected to live on the economies of their host countries, travel widely and be connected to U.S. embassies and consulates only for necessary force protection and administrative purposes.
Visit www.OlmstedFoundation.org for more information.