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Interim Vice Chancellor and Provost Liz Liddy, right, speaks with students Alycia Maurer, left, and Natalie Rebeyev during the CFSA student recognition reception in April.

In the competitive world of national scholarships, ���ϲ����� students stand out among their peers vying for the most distinguished high honors.

held two recent events to recognize student scholars, both those who are completing their undergraduate degrees and those who are up and coming.

The CFSA works with students to help them determine which scholarships might fit their academic goals, figure out the application process and submit a compelling essay, through writing workshops and editing suggestions.

One event was held April 16 in the Strasser Room in Eggers Hall to honor those students who have applied for national scholarships and acknowledge those who were named finalists and winners.

This year, over 177 students and recent alumni have applied for nationally competitive awards offered by private foundations and government agencies ranging from the Boren Scholarship to the National Science Foundation to the Fulbright Program, in all fields and many different countries.

Senior Tyler Smith addresses the audience during the CFSA student recognition reception in April.

At the event, ���ϲ����� Interim Vice Chancellor and Provost Liz Liddy spoke, along with students Natalie Rebeyev, a Gates Cambridge Scholar, and Tyler Smith, a Goldwater Scholarship recipient.

Highlights of this academic year’s scholarships and awards are the following:

• Luke Strauskulage was awarded an Astronaut Scholarship, one of only 27 national awardees.
• Ryan Drysdale and Cameron Reed were selected for the Boren Fellowship.
• Christopher Conrad, Amber Barrow, Rachel Bass, Kimberly Hatcher, Alycia Maurer and Heather Rounds were awarded Critical Language Scholarships.
• Eleven students, both undergraduates and graduates, were named Fulbright Finalists. Brent Elder, Tesia Kim and Rebeyev were awarded grants. Some students are still awaiting the final award decisions from the various countries to which they applied.
• Kelsey Carlson, Jacqueline Gerson, Caitlin McDonough, Kristopher Murray, Sarah Platt and Alanna Warner won National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships (NSF GRFP). Elise Hinman, Strauskulage and Emily Tucci received NSF GRFP Honorable Mentions.
• Terry Jones is a recipient of the Udall Scholarship, one of 50 students chosen nationwide.
• Along with Tyler Smith being awarded a Goldwater Scholarship, Alec Beaton and Samantha Usman were awarded Goldwater Honorable Mentions.
• Three students were also finalists for the Rhodes, Marshall and Luce awards.
• In 2014 and 2015, 39 undergraduates received Gilman Scholarships to support them as they participated in a study abroad semester.

At another event, on April 15, CFSA and Dr. Ruth Chen hosted a reception at the Chancellor’s house for first- and second-year students who were identified by faculty members as having exceptional academic potential. The event was an opportunity to congratulate the students on their work and encourage them in making the most of their opportunities while at ���ϲ�����.

Seven upper-class students who recently applied for or won nationally competitive awards were on hand to talk to their peers. The student panelists—Amber Barrow, Matt Fernandes, Alycia Maurer, Elizabeth McMahon, Kris Murray, Natalie Rebeyev and Heather Rounds—spoke about preparing as an applicant, types of extracurricular activities they pursued, developing mentors and their undergraduate research.

Students gather at the Chancellor’s house during an event in April to recognize outstanding first- and second-year students.