NE North Dakota News

The University of North Dakota (UND) marked a significant year in national scholarships, celebrating numerous student achievements during the 2024-25 academic year. Yee Han Chu, the university's academic support and fellowship opportunities coordinator, emphasized that these successes reflect UND's commitment to nurturing future leaders.

Chu plays a pivotal role in guiding students through the application process for national scholarships. "National scholarships support individuals who reflect the values and ideals of the sponsoring foundation," Chu stated. She assists students in aligning their personal goals with potential awards by helping them clarify their values and professional aspirations.

The path to achieving such honors requires both individual introspection and collective effort. Faculty mentors are instrumental in this journey, aiding students in refining their research skills and establishing professional development timelines. "Students who lack faculty and departmental support often represent untapped potential," Chu remarked.

This year, UND celebrated recipients of prestigious awards such as the Goldwater and Truman scholarships. Autumn Landwehr received the Goldwater Scholarship for her work in Chemistry and Physics & Astrophysics, becoming the fourth recipient from UND. Greyson Orne was named a Truman Scholar, marking UND's 15th recipient since 2016.

Other notable achievements include Christopher Scott and Elisabeth Starosta participating in the CLS Refresh Program, while Palestrina Carter earned a Fulbright Student Research Award for research in Mauritius—UND’s first placement there. Agustin Zettel was selected for the State Department’s Summer Internship Program, and Md Nasifur Rahman Sakib became UND’s first international student to receive the Nagan International Scholarship.

Nichole Dumlao earned an APAICS Congressional Internship, a first for UND. Kayla Barral was chosen for the U.S. Department of State Foreign Service Internship Program with Sevi Sapunar-Lahr as an alternate; however, this program was ultimately canceled for 2025.

Additional milestones included Parker Johnson receiving an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, Elena Rodriguez earning an Honorable Mention from NSF, Jonathan Blankenship joining Henry Clay College Student Congress, Katelyn Heley winning the American College of Bankruptcy’s Distinguished Law Student Award, and Sydney Menne securing MIT's Presidential Graduate Fellowship.

Record-setting cohorts also emerged at UND with seven students earning Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships—the largest cohort in its history—and five advancing in the Critical Language Scholarship program.

Looking ahead, Chu is developing more opportunities by proposing a partnership with the State Department’s Diplomacy Lab to integrate real-world policy challenges into coursework starting spring 2026 if approved.

Reflecting on these accomplishments, Chu sees more than accolades; she observes a student body ready to embrace challenges beyond academics.