Get Inspired by Student Stories
Benjamin Rowles ’18 (all day)
Major in English
While I didn’t receive the Marshall Scholarship, during the application process I passed the exams to enter the U.S. Foreign Service as a diplomat. That was my goal all along, and I think the fellowship preparation I did with UFO provided me with skills that helped me achieve it.
Lucy Spicher ’21 (all day)
Biomedical and Mechanical Engineering
Without URFM and the Spark Program, I wouldn’t have understood the full range of opportunities available to me as a Penn State student. I feel that I’ve truly made the most of my time here, and I can’t wait to see where my education will take me.
Jacob Cordell ’17 (all day)
Majors in Material Sciences and Engineering, German
Applying for the Astronaut Scholarship forced me to take new perspectives on my research and where it fits in a national and global context. Besides boosting confidence in my work, the scholarship convinced me to pursue more fellowships and opened my career options.
Claire Kelling ’21 (all day)
Dual-title Ph.D. in Statistics and Social Data Analytics
Claire has the background, energy, ability, and even the already-established personal connections to succeed. She has shown an amazing level of leadership and gone way beyond the typical expectations of a first-year graduate student.
Rosalie Sowers ’19 (all day)
Majors in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Computer Science
I am extremely honored to have been awarded the Goldwater scholarship. It is gratifying to receive recognition for the hard work that I have put into my research over the past several years. The Fellowships Office provided constructive and targeted feedback on my application materials throughout the process to help give me the best chance of succeeding. It forced me to think critically about my long-term career aspirations. As a result, I now feel more confident about the steps I want to take when I graduate from Penn State.
Scout Cheeks ’18 (all day)
Majors in International Politics, Criminology
With the volume of opportunities available at Penn State, I now realize the importance of tailoring my academic career/experiences to accommodate my exact ambitions and career goals. Students have a wide range of freedom to take advantage of those opportunities whether that be through selection of majors, courses, campus involvement, extracurricular activities, professional networking, etc.