Photo courtesy of Nina Appicello
By Matt de Simone
Nina Appicello, a Lord Botetourt High School graduate, has been named a winner of the prestigious 2025 Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) for Persian/Farsi. Currently a junior at William & Mary, where she majors in International Relations, Appicello is the first student from the Botetourt area to earn the award in her chosen language.
“You can choose a language that interests you, but awards are typically given to those whose language choice aligns with their professional goals,” Appicello explained. “Given my research on nuclear proliferation, studying a language critical to the Middle East made the most sense for my career. The region plays a pivotal role in global security, and events like the Iran Nuclear Deal highlight its importance. Persian (Farsi), spoken in Iran, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan, is especially relevant in this context.”
Appicello shared that International Relations feels like the perfect combination of economics, language, and political science for her. During her time at Lord Botetourt, AP courses such as AP Government and AP French, taught by passionate instructors, sparked her interest in these fields.
“It wasn’t until I interned at the European Union Center in Rome that I truly understood what working in that type of government environment is like,” she said.
At William & Mary, Appicello currently serves as a Student Researcher at the Global Research Institute’s NukeLab, and as the Undergraduate Representative for the Committee of International Studies Board. NukeLab is an undergraduate research lab that uses advanced social science theories and methods to address policy questions related to nuclear security, proliferation, and deterrence. Students collaborate closely with faculty on all aspects of research, including building theories, collecting and analyzing data, and sharing findings with academic and policy communities.
“At NukeLab, I’ve gained hands-on experience in nuclear security research, data analysis, and policy evaluation, all of which helped shape my CLS application,” Appicello added. “I’ve worked on research papers and explored my own interests within the lab, and I hope to have a publication on technology in diplomacy by the end of the year.”
In addition, Appicello serves as a Transition Coach for incoming transfer students at William & Mary.
“Being a Transition Coach is a great way to give back and strengthen our campus community,” she said. “The role requires openness and strong social skills to support transfer students, many of whom are non-traditional both academically and emotionally. I offer one-on-one success coaching and organize events to help students integrate into campus life.”
The CLS is a highly competitive, fully funded program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, part of an effort to increase the number of Americans studying critical foreign languages.
“I feel incredibly proud to represent the Botetourt community on the other side of the world this summer, and I couldn’t have done it without the teachers from our small corner of the world who nurtured my interests,” Appicello reflected.
Each year, the CLS Program selects over 500 U.S. students to study critical languages abroad. As part of her scholarship, Appicello will spend the summer in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, for intensive language study, with the added opportunity to pursue a career with the U.S. State Department.
CLS scholars gain language and cultural skills that enhance U.S. economic competitiveness and national security. The program provides opportunities for U.S. undergraduate and graduate students to spend eight to ten weeks studying one of over a dozen critical languages, including Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Swahili, Turkish, and Urdu. The program features immersive language instruction and cultural enrichment experiences to accelerate language acquisition.
Appicello attributes much of her success to her time as a student in Botetourt County Public Schools.
“The teachers and extracurricular activities I was involved in, especially our Academic Team and my AP courses, were incredibly influential in preparing me for my studies at William & Mary,” she said. “A huge thank you to the teachers at Botetourt County schools who pushed us to our limits. I credit my writing skills to Mrs. Curulla (AP Language) and Mrs. Forbish (AP Literature), my interest in government to Mr. Martin (AP Government) and Mrs. McNeill (AP U.S. History), and my passion for language to Mrs. Scott (AP French). Special thanks also to my Scholastic Bowl coaches, Mr. Godward (AP Chemistry) and Mr. Hill (History), for pushing us to reach new heights.”
Appicello still keeps in touch with many of her former teachers, noting that “the academic excellence at Botetourt County schools shapes outstanding students. Very soon, I’ll be working in government, making a difference, and representing the values of our small corner of the world.”
