USF Office of National Scholars

Congratulations to the six USF students recently selected for The Fulbright Program!

Today, our Fulbright U.S. Student Program Grantees were gifted a medal by USF World in a ceremony to honor their achievements and new roles as ambassadors of the United States and the University of South Florida around the world.

Join us in wishing them well as they begin their travels!

Gina Pantano - Research Grant to Germany
Lidiana Rios Barreto - Research Grant to France
Elizabeth Vicario - Research Grant to Ghana
Jonathan Rodriguez - Research Grant to Dominica
Sabrina Chowdhury (not pictured) - English Teaching Assistant Grant to Uzbekistan
Rachel Sanderson (not pictured) - Research Grant to Spain

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is the largest exchange program in the world, offering fellowships abroad for one academic year to graduating college seniors, graduate students, and recent alumni. To learn more, visit our website!

Congratulations to Joseph Ambrosino, who was selected for the Fulbright UK Summer Institute Program at the University of Bristol with the Centre for Black Humanities!

Joseph is a Political Science and History double major with a minor in psychology. He is interested in racial inequality and justice, and this Fulbright UK Summer Institute at University of Bristol will take a deep dive in the history of Black rights movements on both sides of the Atlantic and the city's footprint within human rights.

Fulbright UK Summer Institutes are three-to-four-week summer programs for U.S. undergraduate students at different higher education Institutions in the United Kingdom (UK). Each Institute has a theme, and themes range from climate change and the environment, to identity and nationhood, to arts, activism and social justice. Participants study alongside academics and professionals, attend cultural events, and visit relevant sites. For more information on this program, visit our website at the link in our bio!

Congratulations to Audra Nikolajski for being selected as a Phi Beta Kappa Key Into Public Service Scholar!

Audra aspires to pioneer curricula changes in elementary education using narrative empathy through storytelling as a touchstone. She has interned at the Hillsborough County Schoolboard and engaged with education policy makers at the 2023 Future of Florida Summit in Gainesville. In the future, Audra plans to pursue the Education and Public Policy MPP/PhD program at the College of William and Mary, with a focus in Educational Policy, Planning and Leadership before going to work for an NGO like Narrative 4, which brings social-emotional learning to classrooms.

Read more about Audra's story through this link: https://www.usf.edu/ons/news-recipients/usf-newest-key-into-public-service-scholar.aspx

Key Into Public Service recognizes students who have demonstrated interest in working in the public sector and possess a strong academic record in the arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. Phi Beta Kappa is the nation's most prestigious academic honor society. Each scholar receives a $5000 undergraduate scholarship and takes part in a conference to receive training, mentoring, and reflection on pathways into active citizenship.

Congratulations to Mabel Proenza for being selected for the Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Graduate Fellowship Program!

Mabel graduated from USF as a student in the Judy Genshaft Honors College in 2021 with a bachelor's degree in International Studies and World Languages and Cultures, with a concentration in French and Mandarin. She will attend Penn State University for a master's degree in International Relations, starting this fall. Upon completion of her degree and fellowship program, she plans to become a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State.

Mabel has a long history of working with the Office of National Scholars and currently stands as the most awarded national scholar in USF's history. As a first year student, she was awarded the Gilman Scholarship and Freeman-ASIA Award to study abroad for a semester in China. She has since also been selected for the Boren Scholarship, the State Department Internship Program, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, and now the Pickering Fellowship.

The Pickering Fellowship provides graduate funding and an opportunity for direct entrance into the Foreign Service upon completion. Pickering is administered by the U.S. Department of State and Howard University. It welcomes applications from members of minority groups historically underrepresented in the State Department based on the fundamental principle that diversity is a strength in diplomatic efforts.

Read more about Mabel's journey through this link: https://www.usf.edu/ons/news-recipients/usf-student-journey-to-foreign-service.aspx

Any students interested in these opportunities can also check out our website.

Congratulations to Daniela Zamora Alviarez for being selected as a POET Scholar!

POET is the world's largest producer of biofuel and a world leader in sustainable bioproducts. They have a strong commitment to powerful and practical solutions to the world's most pressing challenges.

Daniela is one of 12 students chosen nationally for their Never Satisfied Scholarship this year, which includes networking and mentorship with the POET team.

Daniela said, "POET’s mission is not only important to me, but absolutely fundamental to my core values. I believe that tackling our transition from fossil fuels and nonrenewable energy sources is an enormous task that can only be completed through the power of community. As a POET Scholar, my main focus will be to create infrastructure that can supply our energy grid with power that is derived from sources that are not depleting our natural resources, but instead creating a sustainable future for ourselves and future generations. Through empowering the community, especially those who are most disenfranchised, with education and innovative research and development, I hope to make a true impact on our planet."

Congratulations to Jordon Myrick, who was selected for a community-engaged anthropological field program this summer in Starkville, Mississippi!

Jordon will join faculty from Mississippi State University to conduct research in the Brush Arbor Cemetery, a historic Black cemetery, funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The students will learn through archival, archaeological, historical and anthropological work to preserve this significant site and others through a community-based restorative model.

Congratulations to USF's newest NSF GRFP (National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program) recipients! Nine new recipients have been named, as well as one honorable mention. The following students worked on their applications with ONS.

Ruchi Korde (pictured above)
Alexandria Brady-Miné
Cole Gibson
Jacob Yarinsky
Jenna Brooks
David Pando-Gonzalez
Honorable Mention – Cassondra Lyman

The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, social sceinces, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral programs at accredited United States institutions. You can learn more about NSF GRFP on our website's STEM page under the opportunities tab.

Congratulations to Audrey Brandt, who has been selected for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administeation (NOAA) Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship Program!

Audrey is a sophomore with a major in marine biology and a minor in anthropology on the USF St. Petersburg campus. They are also a member of the Judy Genshaft Honors College. During their Hollings experience, which will take place in summer 2024, Audrey will complete research under a NOAA mentor and be provided funding to present at national conferences.

Visit the link in our bio to read more about Audrey and the Hollings Scholarship Program!

Congratulations to Matthew Stoner, a newly awarded CLS (Critical Language Scholarship) recipient! Matthew will head to Taiwan this summer June through August, studying Mandarin Chinese. 🇹🇼

Each summer, American undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities across the country, spend eight to ten weeks learning one of fourteen languages at an intensive study abroad institute. The CLS Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, is designed to promote rapid language gains and essential intercultural fluency in regions that are critical to U.S. national security and economic prosperity. To Speak with ONS about this opportunity, find more information on our website through the link in our bio!

Judy Genshaft Honors College junior Haley Vantoorenburg is USF’s 21st honoree of the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, and Geoscience’s very first!

Haley’s work as a paleoecologist provides critical perspectives on how organisms have interacted throughout Earth’s history and may inform on how communities of organisms interact today and change with their environments. Haley aims to make paleontology more inclusive and accessible, and thus, synergizes community outreach and museum work with her research. Congratulations to Haley and her mentor Dr. Sarah Sheffield of USF Geosciences!

The Goldwater Scholarship is the most prestigious undergraduate award in the country for science research and provides $7,500 for educational expenses and research support. The purpose of the program is to provide a continuing source of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians and engineers by awarding scholarships to college students who intend to pursue careers in these fields.

Congratulations to the eight USF students recently selected for competitive REU (research...) programs across the country!

The students will be taking part in these REU’s this upcoming summer. Those selected range from freshmen to seniors in diverse areas of study, such as Computer Science, Medicine, Philosophy, Mechanical Engineering, Marine Science, and Psychology. Visit our website to learn more about REUs!

Click on each image to find out more about each student's upcoming REU.

Congratulations to Sofia Gonzalez for her acceptance into UF's Scripps Program!

Sofia will be attending the University of Florida's Scripps Biomedical Research SURF/REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) in Jupiter, Florida. This opportunity is a 10-week program with a research focus that integrates cutting-edge bioscience research with the development of chemical tools.

If you are interested in working with the Office of National Scholars, click the link in our bio to find new opportunities that may suit you!

We are proud to have been awarded Fulbright Top Producer status for 2022-2023. With the help of the Office of National Scholars, 10 students were able to experience the Fulbright Program this past year! Find the full article through this link.

The U.S. Fulbright Student Program offers fellowships abroad for one academic year to graduating college seniors, graduate students, and young professionals. Through the program, participants can pursue graduate or professional study, advanced research projects, or English teaching during their time abroad. Email Ms. Lauren Chambers at [email protected] to learn more about this opportunity!

USF earns distinction as Fulbright Top Producing Institution for U.S. Students University of South Florida

Congratulations to Sam Rechek on being named a Marshall Scholarship finalist! We are all wishing him luck for his interview on November 9th!

If successful, Sam will purse an MA in legal and political theory at University College London and a MSc-R in economic history at London School of Economics.

Sam founded 1AF, USF and Florida's only free speech student organization. He furthered his public service work by establishing Bulls Student Advisors to inform students of their due process rights on campus. He proposes to work in the federal or state judiciaries in the future after studying Law, with long term aspirations to find his way to the U.S. Supreme Court. He double majors in politics, and philosophy, with minors in economics and history.

Marshall Scholarships finance young Americans of high ability to study for a graduate degree in the United Kingdom. As future leaders with a lasting understanding of British society, Marshall Scholars strengthen the enduring relationship between the British and American peoples, their governments, and their institutions.

Congratulations to Alexandria Brady-Miné for being named a 2022 Rhodes Scholarship Finalist! We wish her luck at her interviews next week!

Alexandria is a senior in the Judy Genshaft Honors College majoring in mechanical engineering. Her research focuses on biomaterials and 3D bioprinting. She is interested in sustainable manufacturing of biomaterials for medical engineering.

If Alexandria is selected as a Rhodes Scholar, she will pursue two master's degrees at the University of Oxford: an MSc in Sustainability, Enterprise and the Environment, followed by an MSc by research in Engineering, specializing in soft robotics.

The Rhodes Scholarship, established in 1903, is the world’s most prestigious scholarship to study at the University of Oxford. Every year 32 young Americans (and 103 worldwide) are recognized for their outstanding scholarly achievements, character, commitment to others and the common good, and for their potential for leadership in whatever domains their careers may lead to.

Image Credit: MIT Summer Research Program

Congratulations to Keerthana Kallarackal, one of eleven follows chosen statewide for the 2022-23 Florida Gubernatorial Fellows Program!

Keerthana is a recent Political Science and Philosophy USF graduate, and wishes to identify the connection between law and politics in a public servant role through her time in this program. Her placement is with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), and she is the agency’s first Gubernatorial Fellow!

The Florida Gubernatorial Fellows Program provides Florida university students with firsthand, high-level experience and insight into how government operates by giving students around the state the unique opportunity to spend a semester working alongside the state government's top staff.

Check out followinb link to read an article that talks more about Keerthana's great success!

https://www.usf.edu/ons/news-recipients/kallarackal-florida-gubernatorial.aspx

Congratulations to USF's 10 new Fulbright Scholars! 🤘

This is a record-breaking new high for Fulbright Scholars named in a single academic year! Our new recipients, as ordered, are: Sarah Glaser, Gabriela Cuevas, Stephan Hassam, Glenda Vaillant Cruz, Margaret (Margo) Maliwat, Dove Wimbish, Kylie (Ky) Pontious, Sarah Harder, Yoel Gebrai, and Sydni Schlosser.

Find more about the recipients' stories through this link: https://www.usf.edu/ons/news-recipients/fulbright22.aspx

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program aims to build lasting ties between the U.S. and other countries through international educational exchange.

Congratulations to our six newly named National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellows!

Our new awardees include Emily Carr, Kelli Lynch, Adriana Ladera, Patrick Collard, Fasika Hailu, and Daniel Halbiesen. We would also like to congratulate Rosemary Castro, who received an Honorable Mention.

The National Science Foundation Graduate Student Research Fellowship Program (NSF-GRFP) recognizes and supports outstanding students who are pursuing research-based graduate degrees in science, engineering, and social science. Students with a strong academic background and demonstrated excellence and leadership in research are encouraged to apply.

Congratulations Vaidehi Persad! 🤘

Vaidehi has just been named a 2022 Phi Beta Kappa Key Into Public Service Scholar. She is one of only 20 recipients awarded nationwide from a pool of over 900 applicants. She was also recently selected for the John Lewis Fellowship and the Public Policy and International Affairs Program (PPIA) for this summer. After completing her undergraduate degrees in Chemistry and Economics, she plans to pursue dual master's degrees in Public Policy and Public Health with a goal of informing data-driven policy.

Read more about her story through the following link: https://www.usf.edu/ons/recipients/persad.aspx

Key Into Public Service recognizes students who have demonstrated interest in working in the public sector and possess a strong academic record in the arts, humanities, mathematics, natural sciences, and social sciences. Phi Beta Kappa is the nation’s most prestigious academic honor society. Each scholar receives a $5,000 undergraduate scholarship and takes part in a conference to receive training, mentoring, and reflection on pathways into active citizenship.

Congratulations to Danya Awahah and Abigail Reed, who have been honored with NOAA's Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship!

Danya hopes to obtain her Ph.D. in Environmental Chemistry and pursue a career researching climate change and its effects on the oceans and atmosphere.

Abigail hopes to promote environmental stewardship and justice through her work, pursuing potential careers in environmental law and water management.

You can read more about their stories through this link: https://www.usf.edu/ons/news/hollings22.aspx

The Hollings Scholarship provides recipients with a 10-week, full-time paid summer internship at a NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) facility during which students complete research under a NOAA mentor and get the chance to present at national conferences.

USF breaks record with 100% acceptance rate of Goldwater Scholar nominations Three USF students have been named Goldwater Scholars – tying a decade-old record for the most students named in a single year.

Congratulations to Sam Rechek on being named a Truman Scholarship finalist this week! We are all wishing him luck for his interview in March.

Sam founded 1AF, USF and Florida's only free speech student organization. He furthered his public service work by establishing Bulls Student Advisors to inform students of their due process rights on campus. He proposes to work in the federal or state judiciaries in the future after studying Law, with long term aspirations to find his way to the U.S. Supreme Court. He double majors in politics, and philosophy, with minors in economics and history.

The Truman Scholarship supports leaders in all areas of public service. Recipients are selected as college juniors and encouraged to become change agents in their various fields. Truman Scholars can be found at all levels of government and in non-profits, research, healthcare, and more.

🎉 Congratulations to our 27 new USF Gilman Scholars! 🤘

The U.S. Department of State's Gilman International Scholarship is offered to undergraduate Pell Grant recipients who wish to pursue education abroad. The Office of National Scholarships assists students with the Gilman application process. This primarily involves brainstorming and reviewing student application essays, as well as helping applicants fill out the online application.

If you are a Pell Grant recipient interested in studying abroad in Summer/Fall of 2022 or Spring of 2023, consider applying for this scholarship by reaching out to [email protected] before February 4th to state your intent to apply!

Join us later today!

Please join us!

Congratulations to Alex Mercier on being named a finalist for the 2022 Marshall Scholarship! 🎉🤘

Alex is a Judy Genshaft Honors College student majoring in Mathematics and Microbiology with a minor in Russian. He seeks to become a contributor to the emerging field of disease ecology and epidemiology through mathematics. In spring of 2021, Alex was selected as a Goldwater Scholar. The Goldwater Scholarship is the most prestigious undergraduate STEM research award in the nation.

Alex will interview for final selection to the Marshall cohort in November. Please join us in wishing him luck as he prepares!

Marshall Scholarships finance young Americans of high ability to study for a graduate degree in the United Kingdom. As future leaders with a lasting understanding of British society, Marshall Scholars strengthen the enduring relationship between the British and American peoples, their governments, and their institutions

Congratulations to the 53 USF students who submitted Fulbright applications this past week! 🌍

This year, we've set a new USF record! This is the most Fulbright applicants in the history of USF. We wish all of our applicants the best of luck! 🤘

The U.S. Fulbright Student Program is the largest federally funded U.S. exchange program. It offers fellowships abroad for one academic year to graduating college seniors, graduate students, and young professionals. Through the program, participants can pursue graduate or professional study, advanced research projects, or English teaching during their time abroad. Each year, approximately 1,900 Fulbrighters travel to more than 140 countries. Check our website to learn more about this opportunity!

Congratulations to Andrew Paul "AP" Griffis, an inductee into the 2021-22 Florida Gubernatorial Fellows Program!

Andrew Paul (AP) Griffis is one of only two undergrad students selected to participate in the Fellowship this year and the only USF student selected. AP is a senior majoring in Economics and Political Science. AP has been placed at the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. He applied because he loves the state of Florida. Once he graduates from USF, he plans to go on to law school and then to a career either in state government or lobbying.

The Florida Gubernatorial Fellows Program is a non-partisan program which immerses students in key areas of state government and leadership. Through this Fellowship, students spend nine months in Tallahassee, receiving on-the-job training as well as a front-line view of the inner workings of government. Participants interact closely with the state's top leaders and learn invaluable skills and abilities in a highly rewarding environment.

Click the link below to read more about AP's story!
Photos by Meredyth Hope Norrman Photography

https://www.usf.edu/ons/news/apfloridagubernatorial.aspx

🎉🎉🎉 Congratulations to the 33 USF students who submitted Gilman Scholarship applications last week!

The Gilman Scholarship is a national scholarship offered to undergraduate Pell Grant recipients who wish to pursue education abroad. The Office of National Scholarships assists students with the Gilman application process. This primarily involves brainstorming and reviewing student application essays, as well as helping applicants fill out the online application. We have high hopes for our USF students this year! Good luck to everyone who has applied!

If you are interested in applying for the Gilman Scholarship to study abroad in summer or fall of 2022, please reach out to [email protected] or visit our website: https://www.usf.edu/ons/

ONS Spotlight: Mabel Proenza
Fulbright U.S. Student Program 🌍

Mabel just finished her first couple weeks in Canarias, Spain as an English Teaching Assistant through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. Already in her time there, she has gone through a whirlwind of activity. Her favorite thing in her first week in Spain? The food! And there's so much more for her to experience in her remaining time there. Mabel has worked with the Office of National Scholarships in the past, receiving several national awards for study abroad, including the Gilman, Freeman-ASIA, and Boren Scholarships! The Fulbright program facilitates direct cultural exchange, allowing recipients to learn and share experiences with people in their host communities.

📨 Incoming message from our new front desk assistant!

Hi! I'm Bezie, the new student assistant at the ONS front desk! I am a junior majoring in Public Health at the USF Tampa campus. Here at USF, I am also a part of the Judy Genshaft Honors College and a member of the Black Leadership Network (BLN).

I am excited to be a part of ONS and look forward to helping inform students about the variety of opportunities ONS has available, as well as help connect students with the proper resources needed. If you have any questions about ONS don't forget to click the link in our bio!