Five Students Awarded Downey Scholarships

Five Maxwell School students have been awarded Downey Scholarships from the Syracuse University Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence.

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. 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.

“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.

A total of 13 undergraduate, graduate and law students at the University received the scholarships. Maxwell’s recipients are:

COURTNEY BLANKENSHIP, a graduate student studying international relations, security studies and Middle Eastern studies

FIONA LEARY, a graduate student studying international relations

ABIGAIL NEUVILLER, who earned a bachelor’s degree in 2019 in international relations, political science and communication and rhetorical studies and is now a graduate student studying public administration and at the College of Law

GRACE SAINSBURY, a sophomore studying international relations

ASHTHA SINGH, a sophomore studying citizenship and civic engagement and international relations and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program

—Kathleen

Haley