NSO Events Fall 2026
The National Scholarship Office will present information sessions on the following awards throughout the fall semester. Click on the name of the award to go to the award program’s website and click on “Register here!” to register for our sessions. Zoom links will be provided to those who register. Opportunities for undergraduates are notated in green […]
Four VCU students and recent alums earn prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowships for 2026
By William LineberryHonors College One Virginia Commonwealth University student and three recent alums have been selected for the 2026 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program, a prestigious national initiative that helps graduate students advance their studies in STEM-based disciplines. The five-year fellowship provides three years of financial support, including an annual stipend of $37,000 and a […]
Two current VCU students, three recent alums receive prestigious Fulbright awards
By William LineberryHonors College Two current students and three recent alums from Virginia Commonwealth University have been selected for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program – one of the most competitive and prestigious scholarships in the country – for the 2026-27 academic year. Established in 1946, the Fulbright program is sponsored by the federal government to increase understanding between […]
VCU undergraduate selected for prestigious Goldwater Scholarship
By William LineberryHonors College A Virginia Commonwealth University junior has been awarded a Goldwater Scholarship, a prestigious national honor for undergraduate STEM students who plan to pursue research careers. Rohit Paradkar, who is enrolled in VCU’s Honors College that emphasizes experiential learning, is majoring in bioinformatics in the College of Humanities and Sciences’ School of Life Sciences and Sustainability. He is […]
Eleven Students, Recent Alums Named Fulbright Semifinalists
Eleven Virginia Commonwealth University students and recent alumni have been named semifinalists for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program for the 2026-2027 academic year. These candidates will now advance to the final round of evaluation and will be notified of their selection status on a rolling basis from March through May. The Fulbright Program is sponsored […]
VCU Critical Language Scholarship Semifinalists 2026
Three VCU students and alumni have advanced to the final round of selection in the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) summer study abroad program competition. These candidates will be notified of their final status in March. The Critical Language Scholarship is a highly competitive scholarship funded by the U.S. Department of State for the study of […]
CLS Spotlight: Alex Cigularov
VCU medical student Alex Cigularov spent the summer abroad learning Portuguese in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, fully funded by the Critical Language Scholarship. Read on to learn about his experience with the application process and his time in Brazil! Name: Alex Cigularov Degrees: M.D., Virginia Commonwealth University, 2028, B.S., Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2024 Country: […]
From VCU to Harvard: How Study Abroad Shaped a Global Health Career
VCU alumna Neha Pondicherry’s unconventional path shows how diverse experiences can lead to extraordinary opportunities. When Neha stepped off the plane in Northern Ireland as a Virginia Commonwealth University freshman, she had no idea that a three-week study abroad program would reshape her entire career trajectory. Now completing her Master of Public Health at Harvard, […]
Fulbright Spotlight: Vanessa Diaz
Name: Vanessa DiazMajor: Graphic DesignGraduation Year: 2015Fulbright Program: ETA 2016-2017Country: Jordan What made you want to apply for Fulbright in the first place? As an undergraduate, I was involved in many student organizations and activities, where I held leadership roles. My mentor, who still works in the VCU Global Education Office, came up to me […]
Goldwater Scholarship Nominations
The National Scholarship Office is proud to announce VCU’s four 2025 Goldwater Scholarship Nominees: The Goldwater Scholarship Program, which honors the late Sen. Barry M. Goldwater, was designed to foster and encourage outstanding students to pursue research careers in mathematics, the natural sciences, and engineering. Each four-year university can nominate up to four students each […]