A Year in Review: 44 VCU Students, Recent Alumni Receive National, International Scholarships & Fellowships
Over the last year, 44 Virginia Commonwealth University students and recent alumni have been awarded prestigious national and international scholarships and fellowships– helping them advance their studies and careers in fields ranging from public policy, foreign affairs and STEM.
With the assistance of the National Scholarship Office these students and alumni were able to represent VCU’s academic excellence and stand out for their accomplishments and potential in highly-competitive international and domestic pools of applicants.
“We know from our experience that these opportunities are far more than recognition for prior accomplishments.” said Jeff Wing, director of the National Scholarship Office. “These scholarships and fellowships are all future-focused, and these recipients will all benefit from the pathways that open up to them as a result of their selection.
Octavia Chistopher, Sofia Syed, and Michael Portillo – Fulbright
Octavia Christopher, College of Humanities and Sciences, Biology, 2022
Sofia Syed, College of Humanities and Sciences, Philosophy, 2022
Michael Portillo, School of Business, Economics, 2022
The Fulbright Program is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.
“I was drawn to apply to Fulbright because it offered the opportunity to engage in cultural exchange and experiential learning abroad while I’d be able to use my skills to help students along their own academic journeys,” Christopher said.
Vineeth Vaidyula – CLS Spark
Vineeth Vaidyula, College of Humanities and Sciences, Biology, 2024
CLS Spark is a virtual initiative for U.S. undergraduate students to learn languages essential to America’s engagement with the world.
MiJin Cho – Goldwater
MiJin Cho, College of Humanities and Sciences, Psychology and English, 2023
The Barry Goldwater Scholarship was designed to foster and encourage outstanding students to pursue research careers in mathematics, the natural sciences and engineering.
Kavya Purthuveetil and Jensen Wainwright – National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program
Kavya Purthuveetil, College of Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, 2022
Jensen Wainwright, College of Humanities and Sciences, 2019
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported STEM disciplines who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees at accredited U.S. institutions.
Arshelle Carter, Michael Portillo, and Tradgon Sexton – Pickering Fellowship
Arshelle Carter, School of Business, College of Humanities and Sciences, International Management, International Studies, 2016
Michael Portillo, School of Business, Economics, 2022
Tradgon Sexton, College of Humanities and Sciences, French and International studies, 2021
The Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Graduate Fellowship Program is a program funded by the U.S. Department of State that attracts and prepares outstanding and historically underrepresented young people for Foreign Service careers in the U.S. Department of State.
Oscar Kemp – Public Policy and International Affairs Program
Oscar Kemp, School of Social Work, Social Work, 2023
The Public Policy and International Affairs Program was started to address the lack of diversity across the spectrum of professional public service, including government, nonprofits, public policy institutions, and international organizations.
Kelly Nguyen – Rangel Fellowship
Kelly Nguyen, College of Humanities and Sciences, Political Science and International Studies, 2020
The Rangel Graduate Fellowship Program is a program funded by the U.S. Department of State that attracts and prepares outstanding and historically underrepresented young people for Foreign Service careers in the U.S. Department of State.
Abigail Andrade and Mac Salter – RISE Germany
Abigail Andrade, College of Humanities and Sciences, Biology, Physics, and Spanish, 2023
Mac Salter, College of Engineering, Electrical Engineering, 2023
RISE Germany offers undergraduate students from North American, British, and Irish universities the opportunity to complete a summer research internship at top German universities and research institutions.
Chastyn Smith, Lars Axberg, Tristan Norrgard, and Madeline Bataille – SMART
Chastyn Smith, College of Humanities and Sciences, Forensic Science, PhD Student
Lars Axberg, College of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, 2024
Tristan Norrgard, College of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, 2024
Madeline Bataille, College of Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, 2024
The SMART Program, part of the Department of Defense (DoD) science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) portfolio, provides STEM students with the tools needed to pursue higher education and begin a rewarding career with the DoD.
Alexandria Ashe and Sarah Meehan – Presidential Management Fellowship
Alexandria Ashe, School of Medicine, Public Health, 2021
Sarah Meehan, School of Social Work, Social Work, 2022
The Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program is the Federal Government’s premier leadership development program for advanced degree holders across all academic disciplines.
Simon Petrizzi – National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program
Simon Petrizzi, School of Business, Business Administration and Management, 2022
The National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program (NHSC SP) awards scholarships to students pursuing eligible primary care health professions training.
Additional Scholarship Recipients
Helen Rathgeb – Auxiliares de Conversacion Scholarship
The Auxiliares de Conversacion Scholarship offers recipients the opportunity to immerse themselves in the language and culture of Spain while sharing the language and culture of the United States with students in Spain, as well as a tremendous opportunity for professional and personal growth.
Sara Abdel-Hamid, Ashanti Brantley, MiJin Cho, Kenny Colato, Ivania Del Cid-Orellana, Ruth Haileselassie, Emma Johnson, Diana Kovalchuk, Natalia Mangaroo, Mel Ramos, Raelyn Rozmus, and Sofia Simmons – Gilman Scholarship
The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program enables students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad, providing them with skills critical to our national security and economic prosperity.
Ciara Rascona – Governor’s Fellows Program
The Virginia Governor’s Fellows Program offers a select group of outstanding and highly motivated individuals the opportunity to experience firsthand the administration of state government in the Commonwealth.
Madeline Doane – Kathryn Davis Fellowship for Peace
The Kathryn Davis Fellowship for Peace provides funding for aspiring and experienced peacemakers to attend the Middlebury Language Schools.
Emily Brocato, Alisha Eversole, Hannah Lohner, Rebecca Molinini, Sarah Pittman, Celsey Stahlman, Nathaniel Thomas, and Yolander Valentine – National Institute of Health F31 Predoctoral Fellowship
The National Institute of Health F31 Predoctoral Fellowship supports promising doctoral candidates who will perform dissertation research and training for a PhD degree in a scientific health-related field relevant to the mission of the NCI during the tenure of the award.
If you’re interested in applying to any of these competitive scholarships or fellowships, book an appointment with a NSO staff member.
Categories Uncategorized
Comments