The Syracuse University Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence (SU ICCAE) has awarded Downey Scholarships to a group of 13 undergraduate, graduate and law students. The $1,500 award recognizes academic excellence, commitment to public service and potential to bring diverse and distinctive backgrounds and experiences to the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC).

As a designated U.S. Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence, Syracuse University is part of the congressionally mandated program funded by the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which partners with universities to increase the diversity of the U.S. intelligence workforce. The ICCAE offers undergraduate and graduate students unique coursework as well as programmatic and training opportunities to prepare for careers in any of the 17 IC agencies.

“Downey Scholars are high-achieving students, interested in learning more about the diversity and importance of the work being done among the various Intelligence Community agencies—and how they might contribute one day,” says Carol Faulkner, chair of the Downey Scholars selection committee and professor of history and associate dean for academic affairs in the Maxwell School.

The following Maxwell students received the award:

• Courtney Blankenship, graduate student, international relations, security studies, Middle Eastern studies, Maxwell School
• Fiona Leary, graduate student, international relations, Maxwell School
• Abigail Neuviller ’19, graduate student, public administration, Maxwell School, and College of Law
• Grace Sainsbury, sophomore, international relations, College of Arts and Sciences and Maxwell School
• Ashtha Singh, sophomore, citizenship and civic engagement and international relations, College of Arts and Sciences and Maxwell School, and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program

Read the full article via the SU News website.

By Kathleen Haley