Devin Thorne, a 21-year-old double major in Chinese studies and psychology in the UAB College of Arts and Sciences, has been awarded a prestigious Critical Languages Scholarship. He is the fifth UAB recipient in three years.
The Critical Languages Program is part of a U.S. government effort to expand the number of Americans studying and mastering critical-need foreign languages. The scholarship funds the study of a critical language abroad for seven to 10 weeks.
Thorne, a Cullman native, will study intermediate Chinese in China during the summer. He was initially fascinated by the artistry of the Chinese letters, but when Thorne dug deeper into the language, he fell in love, he says.
After graduation, Thorne plans to teach English in China and then work for the Department of State in foreign affairs. His parents are Suzanne and Niall Dillon of Cullman.