Ready for impact: Students collect an impressive list of awards
Student Experience
Seven recent leadership studies graduates are heading to the University of Oxford to pursue one-year master’s degree programs. The Jepson Scholars Foundation, in collaboration with the Jepson School, awarded the 2023 grads full scholarships covering tuition and living expenses. “The rate of Jepson students accepted into Oxford, the oldest and one of the most selective universities in the world, is a testament to the quality of education our students receive at the Jepson School and the University of Richmond,” said Jepson School Dean Sandra Peart.
Student selected for prestigious Fulbright Summer Institute in the UK
Sophomore Chloe Goode has been awarded a competitive opportunity to study at Queen’s University Belfast through a Fulbright Summer Institute in the United Kingdom.
Goode is the first UR student to receive the award. She’ll spend three weeks studying the historical, cultural, political, environmental, and socio-economic factors of Northern Ireland. Participants also engage with local communities and visit political, historical, and cultural sites. “I will have the opportunity to work with academic experts and a bright cohort of peers from various backgrounds while embarking on once-in-a-lifetime experiential learning opportunities,” Goode said.
Two 2023 grads receive Fulbright awards
Two Class of 2023 Spiders will be heading to the Iberian Peninsula to teach and learn with support from Fulbright. Marco Barcenas-Consuelo and Isabela Keetley will be placed in classrooms to assist local English teachers. "The Fulbright ETA is a wonderful fit for Richmond students who are interested in learning about other cultures while also serving as cultural ambassadors,” said Dana Kuchem, director of the Office of Scholars and Fellowships.
Student honored as Newman Civic Fellow
Rising senior Anum Merchant was named as a 2023 Newman Civic Fellow, a yearlong program that recognizes students who stand out for their commitment to creating positive change in communities locally and around the world. Newman Civic fellows participate in learning and networking opportunities that emphasize personal, professional, and civic growth. “Anum has demonstrated her commitment to building relationships and creating positive change through policy and direct service,” said President Kevin F. Hallock. “We are delighted that she will be UR’s 2023 Newman Civic Fellow.”
Two UR students named Goldwater Scholars to further chemistry and physics research
Students Paige Delsa and Helen Xia were awarded Goldwater scholarships to advance their study of machine learning and organic chemistry. Delsa, a junior, is majoring in physics, and under the mentorship of UR physics professor Mariama Rebello de Sousa Dias, is researching condensed-matter physics, the study of substances in their solid state. She is also interested in machine learning and semiconductor research. Xia, a senior, is double majoring in biochemistry & molecular biology and minoring in leadership studies. Under the guidance of chemistry professor Wade Downey, Xia’s research focuses on the field of synthetic organic chemistry with indoles, organic compounds found in many natural products and medicines.
Student grants will support research to fight cancer and bone diseases
Juniors Abigail Ali and Auden Wilson have been awarded prestigious Beckman Foundation Scholarships. Ali, a biochemistry and molecular biology major, is researching methods to treat skeletal diseases like osteoporosis. Under the mentorship of biology professor Isaac Skromne, she is working with adult Casper Zebrafish that have regenerative properties and are ideal for research because they are genetically modified to have transparent skin, which makes it easier to track medicine delivery. Wilson, a double major in biochemistry and molecular biology and health studies, is researching light-activated chemotherapy treatments for lung and breast cancer. Wilson’s research is conducted under the guidance of chemistry professor Julie Pollock.
Recent grad receives Rising Black Scientist award
2023 graduate Camryn Carter has been selected by scientific journal publisher Cell Press for a Rising Black Scientist Award. An essay Carter penned as part of the application, “One Less Weary Smile,” was published online in the journal Cell. “Camryn was chosen from a large pool of worthy applicants, both because of the quality of her essay and for her future potential to have a positive impact,” said John W. Pham, editor-in-chief of Cell. “I was inspired by her story of finding people in her life who could help her see and develop her own remarkable abilities and apply them to things that she cares about.”
Researcher awarded prestigious Luce fellowship
Recent grad Elspeth Collard was recently awarded the Luce Scholarship to study and work in Asia. The program provides stipends, language training, and professional placement. Collard is UR’s second Luce Scholar. “Elspeth is a wonderful example of a student who excels not only inside the structured classroom but is also constantly looking for opportunities outside of their coursework to go deeper into the topics they are passionate about,” said her geography professor David Salisbury.
Two Spiders offered Gilman scholarships to study abroad
Spider undergrads Lizet Garcia and Maaz Rao were offered Gilman scholarships to support their study abroad experiences. Garcia, a senior, will study in India, South Africa, and Jordan. Rao, a junior, will study abroad in the United Kingdom. Gilman grants allow students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad. “The program is a great opportunity for students to study or intern abroad without worrying about the financial burden that could be a barrier,” said Dana Kuchem, director of the Office of Scholars and Fellowships. “Study abroad experiences through this program focus on gaining skills critical to national security and economic competitiveness.”
Five additional UR students were recently offered Gilman scholarships bringing UR’s total to 89 students who have been offered this scholarship since the program started in 2001.
Student receives scholarship to further marine biology research
Junior Emily Lekas was named a Hollings Scholar by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The NOAA Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship provides scholars with a paid summer internship at a NOAA facility and academic tuition assistance for two years. Lekas, who is majoring in biology and minoring in chemistry, is currently studying abroad through the School for Field Studies in the Turks and Caicos Islands, where she’s participating in a directed research project that includes nighttime scuba diving to investigate and film the behavior of octopuses.
Biology professors Emily Boone and Kristine Grayson mentor Lekas.
Recent grad awarded Critical Language Scholarship to study in Indonesia
2023 graduate Sarah Schalkoff has been awarded a Critical Language Scholarship. Overseen by the U.S. Department of State, the program is part of an initiative to expand the number of Americans learning languages less commonly taught in U.S. schools but essential for America’s national security and economic prosperity. This summer, she will study in the city of Malang, in East Java, Indonesia, at Universitas Negeri Malang. Schalkoff also received a Jepson Scholar award and will be pursuing a master’s in Japanese studies at the University of Oxford this fall.
University of Richmond graduate Shea Henderson awarded Boren Scholarship to study Mandarin in Taiwan
Shea Henderson, a recent University of Richmond graduate, has received a competitive Boren scholarship to study abroad in Taiwan. An initiative of the National Security Education Program, Boren Scholars study less commonly taught languages in world regions critical to U.S. interests and underrepresented in study abroad. Recipients commit to working in the federal government for at least one year after graduation.
“This opportunity will allow me to connect my studies of business and languages to better understand the current state of economic relations between Taiwan, the People’s Republic of China, and the United States,” Henderson said.
Ngan Bui and Elspeth Collard have each received $10,000 Davis Projects for Peace grants. Projects for Peace is an initiative supporting college students on grassroots projects designed to build peace. It’s only the second time since the program’s inception in 2007 that two UR projects have been funded in a single year. Ngan Bui, a business administration major, will be working in Cambodia to raise awareness and educate the local community about the dangers of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. Elspeth Collard is an interdisciplinary studies major with a focus on environmental health. Collard will travel to Kenya to work with a local village on sustainable solutions to human-wildlife interactions.