2023 Astronaut Scholarship
The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation was established in 1984 as the Mercury Seven Foundation by the six surviving members of America’s original Mercury Seven astronauts. This year ASF has awarded 60 scholarships to students from 44 different universities across the nation. Astronaut Scholarships are awarded to students in their junior and senior year of college studying science, technology, engineering, or mathematics with the intent to pursue research or advance their field upon completion of their final degree. Astronaut Scholars are among the best and brightest minds in STEM who show initiative, creativity, and excellence in their chosen field.
Amanda Tse is a rising senior studying Pharmacology & Drug Development and Health Promotion & Disease Prevention Studies. She conducts research in the lab of Dr. Paul Seidler at USC Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and serves as the internal vice president of the USC Pre-Pharmacy Society. Her research focuses on small molecule inhibitors of tau as prospective Alzheimer’s therapies. Amanda’s goals are to continue research in the Seidler Lab and obtain a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from USC Mann.
2023 Boren Scholarship
Boren Scholarships provide funding for rigorous language study in exchange for a commitment to work in the federal government for at least one year after graduation.
Carlotta Dalal Alaai will graduate with a a Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations. Carlotta plans to study Arabic in Jordan on the Boren Scholarship.
Sasha Benke will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations with a minor in Law and Public Policy. Sasha will use the Boren Scholarship to study Persian in Tajikistan.
Joseph Jocas will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations with a minor in Applied Analytics. He was awarded the Boren Scholarship to Kazakhstan for Russian study.
Sangeeta Kishore will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations (Global Business) and a Bachelor of Arts in French. Boren supports her travel to Tanzania to study Swahili.
Lingaire Ofosuhene will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and a Bachelor of Arts in Narrative Studies with a minor in Thematic Approaches to Humanities and Society. Lingaire plans to study Twi in Ghana on the Boren Scholarship.
2023 Critical Language Scholarship
The Critical Language Scholarship is a competitive program for 8-10 weeks of intensive language study in one of fifteen critical need languages.
- Blake Levins, International Relations (Global Business) – Korean
2023 Fulbright U.S. Student Program
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program provides grants for individually designed study/research projects or for English Teaching Assistant Programs.
Sasha Benke will graduate May 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and a minor in Law and Public Policy. Sasha won an English Teaching Assistant Award to Uzbekistan, where she plans to continue her research on historical memory and religious conflict in Central Asia and advance the Fulbright mission of cross-cultural engagement. After Fulbright, Sasha intends on pursuing a Master’s Degree in Economics or Public Diplomacy and later pursue a career within the US State Department.
Ammar Dharani will graduate May 2023 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Neuroscience. Ammar won a Fulbright Research Award to Germany to conduct neuropsychiatric research exploring the biological basis of clinical depression. While conducting research in Germany, Ammar hopes to volunteer in the University Hospital Erlangen to immerse himself in the German healthcare system. After Fulbright, Ammar will matriculate into medical school and conduct neuropsychiatry research focusing on improving the quality of life of older adults.
Patricia Garcia graduated from USC with a Master of Science in Computer Science in 2021 and with a Master of Product Development Engineering in 2022. She received the Fulbright/University College London Entrepreneurship Award to pursue a MSc in Entrepreneurship. Her studies will inform her startup, “unithrifts”, which allows students/alumni to buy/sell secondhand collegiate gear and track their environmental impact.
Eduardo Gonzalez completed a USC Master of Arts in Communication in 2022 and is pursuing a PhD in Communication. He won the Fulbright-Garcia Robles All Disciplines – Open Study/Research Award to Mexico. He plans to investigate how Central American refugees in Matamoros, Mexico employ smartphones and mobile technologies during processes of displacement, migration, and resettlement.
Hunter Hinson will graduate May 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Political Science. Hunter won an English Teaching Assistant Award to Spain. While in Spain, Hunter plans to volunteer with the Federación Española De Bancos De Alimentos (Spanish Federation of Food Banks) to address food insecurity in the country following the COVID-19 pandemic. After Fulbright, Hunter intends to work in Washington, D.C., and conduct policy research before applying to law school.
Joe Jocas will graduate May 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and a minor in Applied Analytics. Joe received an English Teaching Assistant Award to Lithuania. After interning for the U.S. Embassy in Dakar, Senegal this summer, Joe will move to Lithuania where he plans to teach English, work with Ukrainian refugees, and research Lithuania’s growing digital landscape. After Fulbright, Joe plans to return to the U.S. to work at the intersection of technology and human rights.
Weronika Malek-Lubawski is pursuing a PhD in Art History at USC. She received a research award to Poland to continue work on her dissertation entitled, “Between Moscow and Paris: Lodz and the Transnational Avant-Garde Network in 1921-1939.” Her research focuses on the industrial city of Lodz, Poland as a crucial site of artistic exchange between Russia and Western urban centers, in particular Berlin and Paris. She will also use her time in Poland to study artworks and archival documents related to other artists who moved between Russia, Poland, and Western Europe.
Sibelle O’Donnell will graduate May 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies and minor in Marine Biology. Sibelle won a Fulbright research award to study coral reefs in Brazil. Sibelle’s research will be focused on assessing genetic connectivity and sub-species distribution across Brazil’s variable reefs. After Fulbright, Sibelle intends to continue her coral research by enrolling in a PhD program.
Jenna Ogawa will graduate in May 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Public Policy, emphasis in Law. Jenna won an English Teaching Assistant Award for a secondary school in South Korea and plans to integrate her experience as a Taekwondo instructor to engage and empower students. After Fulbright, Jenna plans to work at the State Capitol, focusing on AAPI-related projects and legislature. Jenna hopes to utilize her experience post-Fulbright to help bridge the gap between AAPI communities and promote cross-cultural dialogue.
Rianna Rios will graduate May 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Public Policy and a minor in Performing Social Change. Rianna won an English Teaching Assistant Award to Mexico. While in Mexico, Rianna will promote a learning environment that emphasizes the nexus of learning academically, emotionally, and globally. She plans to host writing workshops and lead an autobiographical project where students can learn more about their family history by conducting informational interviews with relatives and community members. Students will then have the opportunity to showcase these stories using an artistic medium, such as visual art, poetry, skits, or other media, in addition to the required bilingual written piece. Upon completing the Fulbright grant, she plans to work in local government for the city of Los Angeles. Specifically, she wants to focus on the policy work regarding the intersection of homelessness, Angeleno identity, and accessibility to the sustainable development of the city.
Carina Robles will graduate May 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in Dance. She will also graduate with a Master of Studies in Law with graduate certificates in Business Law and Compliance Law. Carina won an English Teaching Assistant Award to Taiwan. In Taiwan, Carina is excited to engage in cross cultural exchange through teaching English and through a dance program she will lead in the community. After Fulbright, Carina is interested in exploring a career in law, policy, and governance.
Caleb Rosen is pursing a Ph.D. in Geological Sciences at USC. Caleb received a Fulbright research grant to New Zealand to pursue a project entitled, “Culturing the Extreme: Characterizing microbes from geothermal Mt. Erebus, Antarctica.” During his year of research in New Zealand, Caleb plans to take advantage of existing contacts to bring engaging STEM education directly to local schools. He intends to return to USC to complete his Ph.D. after the project.
Amelie Schlager will graduate May 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations (Global Business) and a minor in Social Entrepreneurship. Amelie won an English Teaching Assistant Award to Taiwan. While in Taiwan, she hopes to instill in her students a lifelong love of learning and passion for intercultural exchange. She will also support community-based organizations in their effort to uplift marginalized groups with untapped potential. After Fulbright, Amelie intends to continue her social impact work and pursue a master’s degree in Social Entrepreneurship.
Matthew Slade graduated May 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts in East Asian Languages and Cultures and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations. Matt received an English Teaching Assistant Award to Taiwan. An avid hiker, he plans to create curriculum drawing from the outdoors to connect to ecology and open up wider discussions with is students. Upon completion of the grant, he hope to return to the United States to find a job at the intersection of education and environmental policy.
Isabel Torres graduated May 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts in Non-Governmental Organizations and Social Change. She received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Spain. A dual language educator, Isabel hopes to use her time in Spain to gain a deep understanding of the role a bilingual education plays in not only enriching students’ language skills but validating who they are. After completing a Fulbright grant, I plan on pursuing a doctorate in Bilingual education.
Isabella Welsh will graduate May 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology and a minor in Cultural Diplomacy. Isabella won an English Teaching Assistant Award to Spain. While in Spain, Isabella plans to create an after-school science program and use engaging experiments as an avenue for mutual understanding. After Fulbright, Isabella plans to pursue a career in medicine that melds patient care with contributions to scientific knowledge and public health, both in the United States and abroad.
Trinity Yang will graduate in May 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and a minor in Gender and Sexuality Studies. Trinity won an English Teaching Assistant Award to Taiwan. While in Taiwan, Trinity plans to learn about cross-cultural communication and social justice advocacy. After Fulbright, Trinity will pursue a career in pediatrics, focusing on applying social justice to medicine and delivering culturally competent care.
2023 Gilman Scholar Recipients
The Gilman Scholarship offers awards for U.S. undergraduates to study or intern abroad. The program aims to diversify the kinds of students who study abroad and the countries and regions where they go.
Cycle 1 – October 2022 Deadline
- Kelvin Chen – Singapore
- Bryneé Evans – South Africa
- Natalie Hodges – Italy
- Tylar Hedrick – France
- Jose Hernandez – United Kingdom
- Bradley Norton – Spain
- Trinity Mecham – France
Cycle 2 – March 2023 Deadline
- Sunya Ahmed – United Kingdom
- Gloria Guo – Japan
- Benjamin Licona – France
2023 Goldwater Scholarship
The Goldwater Scholarship provides support to undergraduate students majoring in the natural sciences, engineering and mathematics who intend to pursue research careers in these fields.
Jordan Cahoon is a junior pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with a minor in Computation Biology and Bioinformatics. She is an undergraduate researcher in the Chiang Lab at the Center of Genetic Epidemiology, part of the Keck School of Medicine. In the past, she has worked on evaluating and quantifying the efficacy of current imputation reference panels as it pertains to global diversity. Currently, she is developing a reference-free deep-learning method to detect archaic admixture in modern-day humans. Her work has been presented at a national conference and is generously funded by the Viterbi Merit Fellowship. Outside of her personal research, she was the Co-President of CAIS++, USC’s premier undergraduate artificial intelligence society, where she has contributed to and led machine projects spanning applications in public health and sustainability. After her undergraduate studies, Jordan will pursue Ph.D. in genetics with the goal to develop equitable computational methods for analyzing underrepresented populations in human genetics.
Allen Chang is a junior pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a Bachelor of Science in Applied and Computational Mathematics. At USC, Allen joined Prof. Maja Matarić’s Interaction Lab in freshman year, where he co-first-authored a publication on behavioral affect recognition of infant-robot interactions. He has continued exploring behavioral modeling for human-computer interaction in Prof. Jesse Thomason’s GLAMOR Lab, where he first-authored a pre-print on multimodal speech recognition for language-guided embodied agents, and Prof. Stefanos Nikolaidis’s ICAROS Lab, where he investigates optimization for data sampling for re-training biased facial classifiers. He is also the Co-President of CAIS++, an undergraduate student organization that works on research projects on AI-for-social-good. Outside of USC, Allen has also conducted research at the MIT Haystack Observatory and Tsinghua University. Allen plans to obtain a Ph.D. in Computer Science and conduct research in the intersections of collaborative human-computer interaction and multimodal machine learning for adaptable interaction systems.
Two USC Computer Science Juniors Awarded Goldwater Scholarships
2023 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program
The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based Master’s and doctoral degrees at accredited United States institutions.
Awardees
- Lorand Cheng will graduate May 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering.
- Alan Goldfarb will graduate May 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics.
- Jocelyn Liu will graduate May 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering and a minor in Animation and Digital Arts.
- Hari Sridhara will graduate May 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering (Sustainable energy) with a minor in Musical Studies.
2022-2023 CSPC Presidential Fellows Program
One USC student is selected annually by the University for the CSPC Presidential Fellows Program, a year-long program to complete research relating to the study of the U.S. Presidency and Congress. Fellows also participate in three-day leadership conferences in Washington, D.C. during the Fall and Spring semesters.
Diego Andrades will graduate May 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Politics and Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Legal Studies. Diego was nominated as the University’s CSPC Presidential Fellow in August 2022.
2023 Truman Scholarship
Michael Solomon majors in history and international relations as a USC Trustee Scholar. Co-founder of Montgomery County Students for Change, one of the District of Columbia metropolitan area’s largest youth advocacy organizations, Michael has dedicated years to grassroots organizing around the issues of gun violence prevention, education equity, and civic engagement. He has interned at multiple levels of government, including with the Montgomery County Council, the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office of Intergovernmental and Legislative Affairs, and the U.S. House of Representatives. He also worked as a policy intern for Cornerstone Government Affairs and the National Education Association. On campus, Michael works as a pro bono consultant for Los Angeles Community Impact and serves as co-president of USC’s chapter of BlackGen Capital. Michael currently serves as a research assistant for a postdoctoral project at Yale University, where he studies the impact of colonial institutions on contemporary African secession movements. A child of immigrants from Ethiopia, he intends to pursue an MA/JD to combine his interests in history and the law in preparation for a career in legal advocacy.