The awards are based on academic success, research endeavors, and community contributions through leadership and service and will send students and alumni across the globe. This year\u2019s recipients include a Truman Scholar\u2014the University\u2019s first in 19 years to receive the premier scholarship for public service\u2014and four Goldwater Scholars, the highest number in any single year from Rochester to receive the prestigious award for US citizens planning research careers in STEM fields.<\/p>\n
Below is a recap of the honorees.<\/p>\n
Hoare selected as Astronaut Scholar<\/strong><\/h3>\nMargaret (Maggie) Hoare \u201924<\/strong> is one of 68 students from 46 universities across the United States to be named a recipient of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation Awards<\/a>, given annually to undergraduate sophomores and juniors in STEM majors. The award includes scholarship funding, plus opportunities to expand recipients\u2019 professional networks to include astronauts, alumni, and industry leaders.<\/p>\nHoare is a biochemistry major from Honeoye Falls, outside of Rochester.<\/p>\n
Two earn public service scholarships<\/strong><\/h3>\nAndr\u00e9s Arocho Gonz\u00e1lez \u201924<\/strong><\/a>, a political science major from San Juan, Puerto Rico, is the first Rochester student to be named a Truman Scholar<\/a> since Jesse Bailey \u201905 in 2004. Arocho was one of 62 students selected out of 705 candidates from 275 colleges and universities.<\/p>\nLaith Awad \u201924<\/strong><\/a>, a native of Caguas, Puerto Rico, was an inaugural recipient of the Barack Obama-sponsored Voyager Scholarship<\/a> for public service. Awad was also a finalist for the Truman Scholarship.<\/p>\n12 students, alumni offered Fulbrights<\/strong><\/h3>\nRochester was named a \u201ctop producer\u201d of Fulbright Scholars<\/a> by the Chronicle of Higher Education<\/em> for the 2021\u201322 academic year with 10 recipients, and exceeded that number this spring.<\/p>\nTwelve students and alumni were selected and 22 were named semifinalists out of Rochester\u2019s 40 applicants. Those chosen for Fulbrights receive grants for study or research and English-teaching assistantships abroad. One recipient is still undecided.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Student Fellowships Office team is overjoyed for the 12 applicants who garnered Fulbright student awards this competition year,\u201d says Belinda Redden, director of fellowships at the College<\/a>. \u201cIn promoting a federally sponsored program that has citizen diplomacy at its heart, we strive every year to support a Fulbright applicant pool that is reflective of the broad diversity that our students represent. Among this year’s winners, there’s a nearly even distribution of majors in humanities, social science, and STEM fields; geographic diversity spanning from Hawaii to the deep South and New England; both first-generation college students as well as first-generation Americans.\u201d<\/p>\nRochester\u2019s recipients include:<\/p>\n
Danielle Getz \u201923 (chemical engineering)<\/strong>
\nThe Penfield, New York, resident will head to the University of Copenhagen\u2019s Center for High Entropy Alloy Catalysts in Denmark. She\u2019ll pursue graduate coursework in chemistry and research on high-entropy alloy catalysts to investigate renewable chemical production pathways to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.<\/p>\nSarah Hoh \u201923 (molecular genetics)<\/strong>
\nHoh is traveling to Spain for an English Teaching Assistantship and has applied for placement in a Canary Islands rural setting to work with elementary school children.<\/p>\nCatherine (Katie) Hurwitz \u201923 (creative writing & world literature, music)<\/strong>
\nThe Walpole, Massachusetts, native will incorporate her arts background into the curriculum during an English Teaching Assistantship in Greece.<\/p>\nAnand Idris \u201923 (optics)<\/strong>
\nIdris, from Queens, New York, is traveling to Taiwan for an English Teaching Assistantship.<\/p>\nHannah Kim \u201922 (cell and developmental biology)<\/strong>
\nKim is heading to Berlin, Germany, for study and research at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics. Her project on cancer cell dormancy is titled \u201cElucidating the Nuclear Interaction of Lin28-mTOR in Embryonic Diapause.\u201d<\/p>\nShalaka Natu \u201923 (biochemistry)<\/strong>
\nNatu is a Rochester Early Medical Scholar<\/a> from Colorado Springs and will be an English Teaching Assistant in Malta.<\/p>\nAbhiyudh Rajput \u201923 (anthropology, environmental health)<\/strong>
\nRajput is heading to the Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi, India, to research the impact of automobile-centric built environments on pedestrian fatalities.<\/p>\nHaile Redietu \u201919 (biology, psychology)<\/strong>
\nRedietu is traveling to Spain for an English Teaching Assistantship and seeking early childhood\/elementary school-age placement in Galicia.<\/p>\nMichael Riches \u201923 (creative writing, psychology)<\/strong>
\nRiches, from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, will pursue an English Teaching Assistantship in Germany.<\/p>\nMichelle Shuai \u201923 (health policy, philosophy)<\/strong>
\nA native of Honolulu, Hawaii, Shuai will be an English Teaching Assistant in South Korea, placed at the secondary level.<\/p>\nVanessa Wish \u201923 (linguistics, ethnomusicology)<\/strong>
\nWish is headed to Galicia, Spain, for an English Teaching Assistantship and hopes to work with secondary school students.<\/p><\/blockquote>\nFour students earn Goldwater Scholarships<\/strong><\/h3>\nFour Rochester students<\/a> were chosen to receive the Barry Goldwater Scholarship<\/a>\u2014the most in school history. The Goldwater is a highly competitive national award for US citizens, nationals, and permanent residents who are undergraduate students in science, math, and engineering committed to pursuing advanced degrees and research-oriented careers in STEM fields.<\/p>\nThe recipients are:<\/p>\n
Derek Chien \u201925 (chemistry, bioethics)<\/strong>
\nChien is from Reno, Nevada, and aspires to be an academic physician, teaching the next generation of clinicians and conducting translational research to integrate findings into clinical settings.<\/p>\nKathleen (Katie\u201d Hall) \u201924 (environmental science)<\/strong>
\nThe Rhinebeck, New York, native is interested in becoming a climate scientist with research focused on understanding the atmospheric methane budget and climate feedback mechanisms.<\/p>\nMargaret (Maggie) Scholer \u201924 (chemistry, environmental science)<\/strong>
\nScholer is from Pittsford, a suburb of Rochester. She intends to pursue a PhD in atmospheric chemistry with a focus on understanding and advancing solutions to anthropogenic climate change.<\/p>\nHope Silva \u201924 (chemistry)<\/strong>
\nA resident of Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, Silva plans to earn a PhD in chemistry and become a research scientist in industry working on environmental issues at the intersection of chemistry and materials science.<\/p><\/blockquote>\nTwo headed to Germany as DAAD RISE scholars<\/strong><\/h3>\nThe DAAD RISE program<\/a> offers undergraduates from North America, Great Britain, and Ireland summer research internships at top German universities and research institutions.<\/p>\nAdarsh Mavathaveedu \u201924 (neuroscience)<\/strong>
\nThe Fleming, New Jersey, resident will perform research in the Department of Neurology at Julius Maximilian University in W\u00fcrzburg. His project is titled \u201cPain-Related Evoked Potentials in Migraine Patients.\u201d<\/p>\nXijue (Jade) Wu \u201923, \u201924 (T5) (chemistry, music)<\/strong>
\nThe Guangzhou, China, native will conduct research at the Institute for Organic Chemistry at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. Her project is titled \u201cPhotopharmacology of Cyclic Dipeptides.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\nApp for refugees earns Projects for Peace grant<\/strong><\/h3>\nAbobakar Sediq Miakhel \u201926<\/strong>, an Afghan refugee who settled in Brussels, Belgium, is the University\u2019s Projects for Peace<\/a> recipient and will be awarded a $10,000 grant. He is cofounder of an app called AILEM: A Language App for Peace, which provides language education for refugees and asylum seekers hoping to integrate into a new country. The app is free and available on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store, with more than 6,000 downloads (primarily in Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and the UK). Miakhel plans to major in physics and mechanical engineering.<\/p>\nCampanelli, Studenkov to study language abroad<\/strong><\/h3>\nTwo Rochester students have been named Critical Language Scholars<\/a> and will spend the summer abroad expanding their language skills in the government-sponsored program.<\/p>\nJesse Campanelli \u201925 (international relations)<\/strong>
\nCampanelli is headed to Taiwan for intermediate-level Mandarin study. He hopes to one day work to improve relations between the US and China, advocating peace, global security, economic partnership, and cultural exchange.<\/p>\nMikhail (Misha) Studenkov \u201925, \u201925E (Japanese, jazz piano)<\/strong>
\nStudenkov is headed to Japan for advanced-level Japanese study. He hopes to discover new cultural perspectives and open avenues for his professional development.<\/p><\/blockquote>\nCastillo heading to Seattle as PPIA fellow<\/strong><\/h3>\nJose Castillo \u201923, \u201924 (T5)<\/strong>, a comparative literature major, will spend his summer at the University of Washington\u2019s Evans School of Public Policy and Governance after being selected to receive graduate-level preparation by the Public Policy and International Affairs Program<\/a>. The Bronx native will take part in the rigorous seven-week PPIA Junior Summer Institute at Washington.<\/p>\n19 students, alumni chosen by NSFGRFP<\/strong><\/h3>\nNineteen students and alumni were honored by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship<\/a> Program, which supports outstanding students who are pursuing research-based master\u2019s and doctoral degrees at US institutions. The federally funded program provides up to three years of graduate study support.<\/p>\nTwelve current undergraduates and graduate students were selected:<\/p>\n
Chesna Apere \u201923<\/strong>
\nArea of study: molecular genetics<\/p>\nLoren Cardani \u201923<\/strong>
\nArea of study: biochemistry<\/p>\nBo Couture, graduate student<\/strong>
\nArea of study: chemistry<\/p>\nNoma Grace Creed, graduate student<\/strong>
\nArea of study: geosciences<\/p>\nEloise Fadial, graduate student<\/strong>
\nArea of study: biomedical engineering<\/p>\nEllen Irving \u201923<\/strong>
\nArea of study: biochemistry<\/p>\nAbbey Kampel \u201923<\/strong>
\nArea of study: biomedical engineering<\/p>\nIsabelle Linares, graduate student<\/strong>
\nArea of study: biomedical engineering<\/p>\nDaniel Nakamura \u201923<\/strong>
\nArea of study: chemistry<\/p>\nFelisha Romero, graduate student<\/strong>
\nArea of study: biology<\/p>\nCheyenne Thomas, graduate student<\/strong>
\nArea of study: biology<\/p>\nLeyla Valerio, graduate student<\/strong>
\nArea of study: chemistry<\/p><\/blockquote>\nSeven University graduates also were chosen:<\/p>\n
Amanda Broadmeadow \u201921<\/strong>
\nArea of study: physics and astronomy<\/p>\nJustine Drappeau \u201921<\/strong>
\nArea of study: chemistry<\/p>\nJonathan Musgrave \u201921<\/strong>
\nArea of study: optics<\/p>\nSpencer Ressel \u201920<\/strong>
\nArea of study: mechanical engineering<\/p>\nHelena Schreder \u201922<\/strong>
\nArea of study: mechanical engineering<\/p>\nAustin Varela \u201920<\/strong>
\nArea of study: computational biology<\/p>\nAnna Weldy \u201920<\/strong>
\nArea of study: chemical engineering<\/p><\/blockquote>\nCriollo-Rivera recognized for service to Hispanic or Latinx community<\/strong><\/h3>\nMara Criollo-Rivera \u201925<\/strong> was one of 15 students chosen across the United States for the inaugural ETS\/AAHHE Undergraduate Fellowship Program<\/a>, sponsored by the Educational Testing Service and the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education. The award is given to Latina\/o\/x undergraduate students with a record of service to the Hispanic or Latina\/o\/x community. Criollo-Rivera\u00a0is pursuing a double major in business: entrepreneurship and digital media studies.<\/p>\nTwo students to teach in France<\/strong><\/h3>\nMaria Schapfel \u201923<\/strong> (molecular genetics) and Vanessa Wish \u201923<\/strong> (linguistics, ethnomusicology) have been named 2023\u201324 fellows as part of the Teaching Assistantship Program in France (TAPIF). Recipients work in France for seven months, teaching English to French students of all ages. Wish, who was selected for both TAPIF and Fulbright, has opted to complete a Fulbright grant in Spain.<\/p>\nChen named National Student Employee of the Year<\/strong><\/h3>\nJiarui Chen \u201923<\/strong>, a data science major from Jiangyin, China, has been named the 2023 Student Employee of the Year for Technology and Innovation<\/a> by the National Student Employment Association. Chen, who is also the University\u2019s undergraduate Student Employee of the Year, is a research assistant at the University\u2019s Clinical and Translational Science Institute<\/a>.<\/p>\nOlivia Waysack \u201922, \u201923M (MS)<\/strong> is the University\u2019s Graduate Student Employee of the Year. The epidemiology master\u2019s student from Las Vegas is a research assistant for ROC HOME, a community-based home visiting research project in the Department of Environmental Medicine<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\nRead more<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Hoare is a biochemistry major from Honeoye Falls, outside of Rochester.<\/p>\n
Two earn public service scholarships<\/strong><\/h3>\nAndr\u00e9s Arocho Gonz\u00e1lez \u201924<\/strong><\/a>, a political science major from San Juan, Puerto Rico, is the first Rochester student to be named a Truman Scholar<\/a> since Jesse Bailey \u201905 in 2004. Arocho was one of 62 students selected out of 705 candidates from 275 colleges and universities.<\/p>\nLaith Awad \u201924<\/strong><\/a>, a native of Caguas, Puerto Rico, was an inaugural recipient of the Barack Obama-sponsored Voyager Scholarship<\/a> for public service. Awad was also a finalist for the Truman Scholarship.<\/p>\n12 students, alumni offered Fulbrights<\/strong><\/h3>\nRochester was named a \u201ctop producer\u201d of Fulbright Scholars<\/a> by the Chronicle of Higher Education<\/em> for the 2021\u201322 academic year with 10 recipients, and exceeded that number this spring.<\/p>\nTwelve students and alumni were selected and 22 were named semifinalists out of Rochester\u2019s 40 applicants. Those chosen for Fulbrights receive grants for study or research and English-teaching assistantships abroad. One recipient is still undecided.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Student Fellowships Office team is overjoyed for the 12 applicants who garnered Fulbright student awards this competition year,\u201d says Belinda Redden, director of fellowships at the College<\/a>. \u201cIn promoting a federally sponsored program that has citizen diplomacy at its heart, we strive every year to support a Fulbright applicant pool that is reflective of the broad diversity that our students represent. Among this year’s winners, there’s a nearly even distribution of majors in humanities, social science, and STEM fields; geographic diversity spanning from Hawaii to the deep South and New England; both first-generation college students as well as first-generation Americans.\u201d<\/p>\nRochester\u2019s recipients include:<\/p>\n
Danielle Getz \u201923 (chemical engineering)<\/strong>
\nThe Penfield, New York, resident will head to the University of Copenhagen\u2019s Center for High Entropy Alloy Catalysts in Denmark. She\u2019ll pursue graduate coursework in chemistry and research on high-entropy alloy catalysts to investigate renewable chemical production pathways to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.<\/p>\nSarah Hoh \u201923 (molecular genetics)<\/strong>
\nHoh is traveling to Spain for an English Teaching Assistantship and has applied for placement in a Canary Islands rural setting to work with elementary school children.<\/p>\nCatherine (Katie) Hurwitz \u201923 (creative writing & world literature, music)<\/strong>
\nThe Walpole, Massachusetts, native will incorporate her arts background into the curriculum during an English Teaching Assistantship in Greece.<\/p>\nAnand Idris \u201923 (optics)<\/strong>
\nIdris, from Queens, New York, is traveling to Taiwan for an English Teaching Assistantship.<\/p>\nHannah Kim \u201922 (cell and developmental biology)<\/strong>
\nKim is heading to Berlin, Germany, for study and research at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics. Her project on cancer cell dormancy is titled \u201cElucidating the Nuclear Interaction of Lin28-mTOR in Embryonic Diapause.\u201d<\/p>\nShalaka Natu \u201923 (biochemistry)<\/strong>
\nNatu is a Rochester Early Medical Scholar<\/a> from Colorado Springs and will be an English Teaching Assistant in Malta.<\/p>\nAbhiyudh Rajput \u201923 (anthropology, environmental health)<\/strong>
\nRajput is heading to the Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi, India, to research the impact of automobile-centric built environments on pedestrian fatalities.<\/p>\nHaile Redietu \u201919 (biology, psychology)<\/strong>
\nRedietu is traveling to Spain for an English Teaching Assistantship and seeking early childhood\/elementary school-age placement in Galicia.<\/p>\nMichael Riches \u201923 (creative writing, psychology)<\/strong>
\nRiches, from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, will pursue an English Teaching Assistantship in Germany.<\/p>\nMichelle Shuai \u201923 (health policy, philosophy)<\/strong>
\nA native of Honolulu, Hawaii, Shuai will be an English Teaching Assistant in South Korea, placed at the secondary level.<\/p>\nVanessa Wish \u201923 (linguistics, ethnomusicology)<\/strong>
\nWish is headed to Galicia, Spain, for an English Teaching Assistantship and hopes to work with secondary school students.<\/p><\/blockquote>\nFour students earn Goldwater Scholarships<\/strong><\/h3>\nFour Rochester students<\/a> were chosen to receive the Barry Goldwater Scholarship<\/a>\u2014the most in school history. The Goldwater is a highly competitive national award for US citizens, nationals, and permanent residents who are undergraduate students in science, math, and engineering committed to pursuing advanced degrees and research-oriented careers in STEM fields.<\/p>\nThe recipients are:<\/p>\n
Derek Chien \u201925 (chemistry, bioethics)<\/strong>
\nChien is from Reno, Nevada, and aspires to be an academic physician, teaching the next generation of clinicians and conducting translational research to integrate findings into clinical settings.<\/p>\nKathleen (Katie\u201d Hall) \u201924 (environmental science)<\/strong>
\nThe Rhinebeck, New York, native is interested in becoming a climate scientist with research focused on understanding the atmospheric methane budget and climate feedback mechanisms.<\/p>\nMargaret (Maggie) Scholer \u201924 (chemistry, environmental science)<\/strong>
\nScholer is from Pittsford, a suburb of Rochester. She intends to pursue a PhD in atmospheric chemistry with a focus on understanding and advancing solutions to anthropogenic climate change.<\/p>\nHope Silva \u201924 (chemistry)<\/strong>
\nA resident of Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, Silva plans to earn a PhD in chemistry and become a research scientist in industry working on environmental issues at the intersection of chemistry and materials science.<\/p><\/blockquote>\nTwo headed to Germany as DAAD RISE scholars<\/strong><\/h3>\nThe DAAD RISE program<\/a> offers undergraduates from North America, Great Britain, and Ireland summer research internships at top German universities and research institutions.<\/p>\nAdarsh Mavathaveedu \u201924 (neuroscience)<\/strong>
\nThe Fleming, New Jersey, resident will perform research in the Department of Neurology at Julius Maximilian University in W\u00fcrzburg. His project is titled \u201cPain-Related Evoked Potentials in Migraine Patients.\u201d<\/p>\nXijue (Jade) Wu \u201923, \u201924 (T5) (chemistry, music)<\/strong>
\nThe Guangzhou, China, native will conduct research at the Institute for Organic Chemistry at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. Her project is titled \u201cPhotopharmacology of Cyclic Dipeptides.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\nApp for refugees earns Projects for Peace grant<\/strong><\/h3>\nAbobakar Sediq Miakhel \u201926<\/strong>, an Afghan refugee who settled in Brussels, Belgium, is the University\u2019s Projects for Peace<\/a> recipient and will be awarded a $10,000 grant. He is cofounder of an app called AILEM: A Language App for Peace, which provides language education for refugees and asylum seekers hoping to integrate into a new country. The app is free and available on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store, with more than 6,000 downloads (primarily in Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and the UK). Miakhel plans to major in physics and mechanical engineering.<\/p>\nCampanelli, Studenkov to study language abroad<\/strong><\/h3>\nTwo Rochester students have been named Critical Language Scholars<\/a> and will spend the summer abroad expanding their language skills in the government-sponsored program.<\/p>\nJesse Campanelli \u201925 (international relations)<\/strong>
\nCampanelli is headed to Taiwan for intermediate-level Mandarin study. He hopes to one day work to improve relations between the US and China, advocating peace, global security, economic partnership, and cultural exchange.<\/p>\nMikhail (Misha) Studenkov \u201925, \u201925E (Japanese, jazz piano)<\/strong>
\nStudenkov is headed to Japan for advanced-level Japanese study. He hopes to discover new cultural perspectives and open avenues for his professional development.<\/p><\/blockquote>\nCastillo heading to Seattle as PPIA fellow<\/strong><\/h3>\nJose Castillo \u201923, \u201924 (T5)<\/strong>, a comparative literature major, will spend his summer at the University of Washington\u2019s Evans School of Public Policy and Governance after being selected to receive graduate-level preparation by the Public Policy and International Affairs Program<\/a>. The Bronx native will take part in the rigorous seven-week PPIA Junior Summer Institute at Washington.<\/p>\n19 students, alumni chosen by NSFGRFP<\/strong><\/h3>\nNineteen students and alumni were honored by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship<\/a> Program, which supports outstanding students who are pursuing research-based master\u2019s and doctoral degrees at US institutions. The federally funded program provides up to three years of graduate study support.<\/p>\nTwelve current undergraduates and graduate students were selected:<\/p>\n
Chesna Apere \u201923<\/strong>
\nArea of study: molecular genetics<\/p>\nLoren Cardani \u201923<\/strong>
\nArea of study: biochemistry<\/p>\nBo Couture, graduate student<\/strong>
\nArea of study: chemistry<\/p>\nNoma Grace Creed, graduate student<\/strong>
\nArea of study: geosciences<\/p>\nEloise Fadial, graduate student<\/strong>
\nArea of study: biomedical engineering<\/p>\nEllen Irving \u201923<\/strong>
\nArea of study: biochemistry<\/p>\nAbbey Kampel \u201923<\/strong>
\nArea of study: biomedical engineering<\/p>\nIsabelle Linares, graduate student<\/strong>
\nArea of study: biomedical engineering<\/p>\nDaniel Nakamura \u201923<\/strong>
\nArea of study: chemistry<\/p>\nFelisha Romero, graduate student<\/strong>
\nArea of study: biology<\/p>\nCheyenne Thomas, graduate student<\/strong>
\nArea of study: biology<\/p>\nLeyla Valerio, graduate student<\/strong>
\nArea of study: chemistry<\/p><\/blockquote>\nSeven University graduates also were chosen:<\/p>\n
Amanda Broadmeadow \u201921<\/strong>
\nArea of study: physics and astronomy<\/p>\nJustine Drappeau \u201921<\/strong>
\nArea of study: chemistry<\/p>\nJonathan Musgrave \u201921<\/strong>
\nArea of study: optics<\/p>\nSpencer Ressel \u201920<\/strong>
\nArea of study: mechanical engineering<\/p>\nHelena Schreder \u201922<\/strong>
\nArea of study: mechanical engineering<\/p>\nAustin Varela \u201920<\/strong>
\nArea of study: computational biology<\/p>\nAnna Weldy \u201920<\/strong>
\nArea of study: chemical engineering<\/p><\/blockquote>\nCriollo-Rivera recognized for service to Hispanic or Latinx community<\/strong><\/h3>\nMara Criollo-Rivera \u201925<\/strong> was one of 15 students chosen across the United States for the inaugural ETS\/AAHHE Undergraduate Fellowship Program<\/a>, sponsored by the Educational Testing Service and the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education. The award is given to Latina\/o\/x undergraduate students with a record of service to the Hispanic or Latina\/o\/x community. Criollo-Rivera\u00a0is pursuing a double major in business: entrepreneurship and digital media studies.<\/p>\nTwo students to teach in France<\/strong><\/h3>\nMaria Schapfel \u201923<\/strong> (molecular genetics) and Vanessa Wish \u201923<\/strong> (linguistics, ethnomusicology) have been named 2023\u201324 fellows as part of the Teaching Assistantship Program in France (TAPIF). Recipients work in France for seven months, teaching English to French students of all ages. Wish, who was selected for both TAPIF and Fulbright, has opted to complete a Fulbright grant in Spain.<\/p>\nChen named National Student Employee of the Year<\/strong><\/h3>\nJiarui Chen \u201923<\/strong>, a data science major from Jiangyin, China, has been named the 2023 Student Employee of the Year for Technology and Innovation<\/a> by the National Student Employment Association. Chen, who is also the University\u2019s undergraduate Student Employee of the Year, is a research assistant at the University\u2019s Clinical and Translational Science Institute<\/a>.<\/p>\nOlivia Waysack \u201922, \u201923M (MS)<\/strong> is the University\u2019s Graduate Student Employee of the Year. The epidemiology master\u2019s student from Las Vegas is a research assistant for ROC HOME, a community-based home visiting research project in the Department of Environmental Medicine<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\nRead more<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Laith Awad \u201924<\/strong><\/a>, a native of Caguas, Puerto Rico, was an inaugural recipient of the Barack Obama-sponsored Voyager Scholarship<\/a> for public service. Awad was also a finalist for the Truman Scholarship.<\/p>\n Rochester was named a \u201ctop producer\u201d of Fulbright Scholars<\/a> by the Chronicle of Higher Education<\/em> for the 2021\u201322 academic year with 10 recipients, and exceeded that number this spring.<\/p>\n Twelve students and alumni were selected and 22 were named semifinalists out of Rochester\u2019s 40 applicants. Those chosen for Fulbrights receive grants for study or research and English-teaching assistantships abroad. One recipient is still undecided.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Student Fellowships Office team is overjoyed for the 12 applicants who garnered Fulbright student awards this competition year,\u201d says Belinda Redden, director of fellowships at the College<\/a>. \u201cIn promoting a federally sponsored program that has citizen diplomacy at its heart, we strive every year to support a Fulbright applicant pool that is reflective of the broad diversity that our students represent. Among this year’s winners, there’s a nearly even distribution of majors in humanities, social science, and STEM fields; geographic diversity spanning from Hawaii to the deep South and New England; both first-generation college students as well as first-generation Americans.\u201d<\/p>\n Rochester\u2019s recipients include:<\/p>\n Danielle Getz \u201923 (chemical engineering)<\/strong> Sarah Hoh \u201923 (molecular genetics)<\/strong> Catherine (Katie) Hurwitz \u201923 (creative writing & world literature, music)<\/strong> Anand Idris \u201923 (optics)<\/strong> Hannah Kim \u201922 (cell and developmental biology)<\/strong> Shalaka Natu \u201923 (biochemistry)<\/strong> Abhiyudh Rajput \u201923 (anthropology, environmental health)<\/strong> Haile Redietu \u201919 (biology, psychology)<\/strong> Michael Riches \u201923 (creative writing, psychology)<\/strong> Michelle Shuai \u201923 (health policy, philosophy)<\/strong> Vanessa Wish \u201923 (linguistics, ethnomusicology)<\/strong> Four Rochester students<\/a> were chosen to receive the Barry Goldwater Scholarship<\/a>\u2014the most in school history. The Goldwater is a highly competitive national award for US citizens, nationals, and permanent residents who are undergraduate students in science, math, and engineering committed to pursuing advanced degrees and research-oriented careers in STEM fields.<\/p>\n The recipients are:<\/p>\n Derek Chien \u201925 (chemistry, bioethics)<\/strong> Kathleen (Katie\u201d Hall) \u201924 (environmental science)<\/strong> Margaret (Maggie) Scholer \u201924 (chemistry, environmental science)<\/strong> Hope Silva \u201924 (chemistry)<\/strong> The DAAD RISE program<\/a> offers undergraduates from North America, Great Britain, and Ireland summer research internships at top German universities and research institutions.<\/p>\n Adarsh Mavathaveedu \u201924 (neuroscience)<\/strong> Xijue (Jade) Wu \u201923, \u201924 (T5) (chemistry, music)<\/strong> Abobakar Sediq Miakhel \u201926<\/strong>, an Afghan refugee who settled in Brussels, Belgium, is the University\u2019s Projects for Peace<\/a> recipient and will be awarded a $10,000 grant. He is cofounder of an app called AILEM: A Language App for Peace, which provides language education for refugees and asylum seekers hoping to integrate into a new country. The app is free and available on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store, with more than 6,000 downloads (primarily in Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and the UK). Miakhel plans to major in physics and mechanical engineering.<\/p>\n Two Rochester students have been named Critical Language Scholars<\/a> and will spend the summer abroad expanding their language skills in the government-sponsored program.<\/p>\n Jesse Campanelli \u201925 (international relations)<\/strong> Mikhail (Misha) Studenkov \u201925, \u201925E (Japanese, jazz piano)<\/strong> Jose Castillo \u201923, \u201924 (T5)<\/strong>, a comparative literature major, will spend his summer at the University of Washington\u2019s Evans School of Public Policy and Governance after being selected to receive graduate-level preparation by the Public Policy and International Affairs Program<\/a>. The Bronx native will take part in the rigorous seven-week PPIA Junior Summer Institute at Washington.<\/p>\n Nineteen students and alumni were honored by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship<\/a> Program, which supports outstanding students who are pursuing research-based master\u2019s and doctoral degrees at US institutions. The federally funded program provides up to three years of graduate study support.<\/p>\n Twelve current undergraduates and graduate students were selected:<\/p>\n Chesna Apere \u201923<\/strong> Loren Cardani \u201923<\/strong> Bo Couture, graduate student<\/strong> Noma Grace Creed, graduate student<\/strong> Eloise Fadial, graduate student<\/strong> Ellen Irving \u201923<\/strong> Abbey Kampel \u201923<\/strong> Isabelle Linares, graduate student<\/strong> Daniel Nakamura \u201923<\/strong> Felisha Romero, graduate student<\/strong> Cheyenne Thomas, graduate student<\/strong> Leyla Valerio, graduate student<\/strong> Seven University graduates also were chosen:<\/p>\n Amanda Broadmeadow \u201921<\/strong> Justine Drappeau \u201921<\/strong> Jonathan Musgrave \u201921<\/strong> Spencer Ressel \u201920<\/strong> Helena Schreder \u201922<\/strong> Austin Varela \u201920<\/strong> Anna Weldy \u201920<\/strong> Mara Criollo-Rivera \u201925<\/strong> was one of 15 students chosen across the United States for the inaugural ETS\/AAHHE Undergraduate Fellowship Program<\/a>, sponsored by the Educational Testing Service and the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education. The award is given to Latina\/o\/x undergraduate students with a record of service to the Hispanic or Latina\/o\/x community. Criollo-Rivera\u00a0is pursuing a double major in business: entrepreneurship and digital media studies.<\/p>\n Maria Schapfel \u201923<\/strong> (molecular genetics) and Vanessa Wish \u201923<\/strong> (linguistics, ethnomusicology) have been named 2023\u201324 fellows as part of the Teaching Assistantship Program in France (TAPIF). Recipients work in France for seven months, teaching English to French students of all ages. Wish, who was selected for both TAPIF and Fulbright, has opted to complete a Fulbright grant in Spain.<\/p>\n Jiarui Chen \u201923<\/strong>, a data science major from Jiangyin, China, has been named the 2023 Student Employee of the Year for Technology and Innovation<\/a> by the National Student Employment Association. Chen, who is also the University\u2019s undergraduate Student Employee of the Year, is a research assistant at the University\u2019s Clinical and Translational Science Institute<\/a>.<\/p>\n Olivia Waysack \u201922, \u201923M (MS)<\/strong> is the University\u2019s Graduate Student Employee of the Year. The epidemiology master\u2019s student from Las Vegas is a research assistant for ROC HOME, a community-based home visiting research project in the Department of Environmental Medicine<\/a>.<\/p>\n12 students, alumni offered Fulbrights<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nThe Penfield, New York, resident will head to the University of Copenhagen\u2019s Center for High Entropy Alloy Catalysts in Denmark. She\u2019ll pursue graduate coursework in chemistry and research on high-entropy alloy catalysts to investigate renewable chemical production pathways to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.<\/p>\n
\nHoh is traveling to Spain for an English Teaching Assistantship and has applied for placement in a Canary Islands rural setting to work with elementary school children.<\/p>\n
\nThe Walpole, Massachusetts, native will incorporate her arts background into the curriculum during an English Teaching Assistantship in Greece.<\/p>\n
\nIdris, from Queens, New York, is traveling to Taiwan for an English Teaching Assistantship.<\/p>\n
\nKim is heading to Berlin, Germany, for study and research at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics. Her project on cancer cell dormancy is titled \u201cElucidating the Nuclear Interaction of Lin28-mTOR in Embryonic Diapause.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nNatu is a Rochester Early Medical Scholar<\/a> from Colorado Springs and will be an English Teaching Assistant in Malta.<\/p>\n
\nRajput is heading to the Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi, India, to research the impact of automobile-centric built environments on pedestrian fatalities.<\/p>\n
\nRedietu is traveling to Spain for an English Teaching Assistantship and seeking early childhood\/elementary school-age placement in Galicia.<\/p>\n
\nRiches, from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, will pursue an English Teaching Assistantship in Germany.<\/p>\n
\nA native of Honolulu, Hawaii, Shuai will be an English Teaching Assistant in South Korea, placed at the secondary level.<\/p>\n
\nWish is headed to Galicia, Spain, for an English Teaching Assistantship and hopes to work with secondary school students.<\/p><\/blockquote>\nFour students earn Goldwater Scholarships<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nChien is from Reno, Nevada, and aspires to be an academic physician, teaching the next generation of clinicians and conducting translational research to integrate findings into clinical settings.<\/p>\n
\nThe Rhinebeck, New York, native is interested in becoming a climate scientist with research focused on understanding the atmospheric methane budget and climate feedback mechanisms.<\/p>\n
\nScholer is from Pittsford, a suburb of Rochester. She intends to pursue a PhD in atmospheric chemistry with a focus on understanding and advancing solutions to anthropogenic climate change.<\/p>\n
\nA resident of Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, Silva plans to earn a PhD in chemistry and become a research scientist in industry working on environmental issues at the intersection of chemistry and materials science.<\/p><\/blockquote>\nTwo headed to Germany as DAAD RISE scholars<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nThe Fleming, New Jersey, resident will perform research in the Department of Neurology at Julius Maximilian University in W\u00fcrzburg. His project is titled \u201cPain-Related Evoked Potentials in Migraine Patients.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nThe Guangzhou, China, native will conduct research at the Institute for Organic Chemistry at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. Her project is titled \u201cPhotopharmacology of Cyclic Dipeptides.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\nApp for refugees earns Projects for Peace grant<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Campanelli, Studenkov to study language abroad<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nCampanelli is headed to Taiwan for intermediate-level Mandarin study. He hopes to one day work to improve relations between the US and China, advocating peace, global security, economic partnership, and cultural exchange.<\/p>\n
\nStudenkov is headed to Japan for advanced-level Japanese study. He hopes to discover new cultural perspectives and open avenues for his professional development.<\/p><\/blockquote>\nCastillo heading to Seattle as PPIA fellow<\/strong><\/h3>\n
19 students, alumni chosen by NSFGRFP<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nArea of study: molecular genetics<\/p>\n
\nArea of study: biochemistry<\/p>\n
\nArea of study: chemistry<\/p>\n
\nArea of study: geosciences<\/p>\n
\nArea of study: biomedical engineering<\/p>\n
\nArea of study: biochemistry<\/p>\n
\nArea of study: biomedical engineering<\/p>\n
\nArea of study: biomedical engineering<\/p>\n
\nArea of study: chemistry<\/p>\n
\nArea of study: biology<\/p>\n
\nArea of study: biology<\/p>\n
\nArea of study: chemistry<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nArea of study: physics and astronomy<\/p>\n
\nArea of study: chemistry<\/p>\n
\nArea of study: optics<\/p>\n
\nArea of study: mechanical engineering<\/p>\n
\nArea of study: mechanical engineering<\/p>\n
\nArea of study: computational biology<\/p>\n
\nArea of study: chemical engineering<\/p><\/blockquote>\nCriollo-Rivera recognized for service to Hispanic or Latinx community<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Two students to teach in France<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Chen named National Student Employee of the Year<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nRead more<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"script](\"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/fea-global-humanities-scholars.jpg\")
New award sends humanities graduate students abroad<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n![\"composite](\"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/fea-wells-award-2022.jpg\")
These students thrive where STEM, humanities intersect<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n![\"Collage](\"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/fea-making-their-mark-class-of-2023.jpeg\")
Meet\u2014and celebrate\u2014Rochester\u2019s Class of 2023<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n