Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships & Awards (OMSFA)

University of Washington senior Shubham Bansal, ’26, has been named a 2026 Rhodes Scholar, one of the most prestigious academic awards for U.S. students.

The next time your phone’s virtual assistant gives you a quick answer instead of nudging you to think harder, remember Andre Ye, ’25. He’s part of a new generation of researchers reimagining how AI supports human thought.

Seven UW students and recent alumni were awarded Fulbright U.S. Student Program scholarships for the 2025–2026 academic year, joining about 2,000 students and recent graduates from around the country to pursue graduate study, conduct research and teach English abroad.

The U.S. Department of State has recognized the University of Washington for producing 41 recipients of the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship during the spring 2025 cycle. The Gilman Scholarship supports U.S. undergraduates with financial need in studying or interning abroad. The UW’s strong showing reflects the University’s commitment to expanding global learning opportunities for all students.

University of Washington undergrad Lorenzo Roel Flores McCleese, ’27, was recently named a Udall Scholar. Lorenzo is pursuing bachelors’ degrees in environmental science and terrestrial resource management as well as informatics, with a focus on data science.

Tristan Jafari, a third-year student at the University of Washington majoring in biochemistry, has been selected for the prestigious Truman Scholarship. Set to graduate early, Jafari will pursue a master’s degree in philosophy of population health sciences at the University of Cambridge in England this fall.

Four University of Washington students have been named Goldwater Scholars by the Goldwater Foundation, advancing the University’s tradition of undergraduate academic excellence and recognition. Their undergraduate research includes developing therapies for brain injury and disease, researching drug delivery, artificial tissue engineering and studying cell response in heart tissue.

The University of Washington has been recognized once again as one of American higher education’s top producers of Fulbright students and scholars. This recognition is given to the U.S. colleges and universities that had the highest number of applicants selected for the 2024-25 Fulbright U.S. Student and Fulbright U.S. Scholar Programs – the federal government’s flagship international exchange program.

Thirteen UW students and recent alumni were awarded Fulbright U.S. Student Program scholarships this year, including five undergrads and bachelor’s alumni. They join about 2,000 students and recent graduates from around the country to research, study and teach abroad.

This year’s UW Goldwater Scholars are Dania Ahmed, Annabella Li and Masa Nakura-Fan. Their undergraduate research projects with faculty cover a range of topics such as the mechanisms underlying heart disease, designing, producing and testing novel protein-based systems, and computational fabrication and artificial intelligence.

Sonia Fereidooni, who earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Washington, was selected for the prestigious Gates Cambridge Scholarship.

Abby Burtner, ‘24, has been awarded the prestigious Churchill Scholarship in recognition of her outstanding achievements in the field of biochemistry. As a Churchill Scholar, Burtner’s next step is to complete a fully-funded master’s degree in pathology at Cambridge University.

University of Washington undergraduate Casper Suen, ‘23, and alum Collin Chung, ‘21, were recently selected for the competitive Yenching Academy Scholars program at Peking University. 

The University of Washington continues its distinguished record of producing Fulbright students, as six undergraduate students/bachelor’s alumni, and six graduate students/alumni have been offered prestigious Fulbright grants for the 2023-24 academic year. 

University of Washington sophomore Isabell Ellison was recently named a Udall Scholar! Ellison is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering with a focus on improving communities through infrastructure.

Twelve UW students and recent alumni were awarded Fulbright U.S. Student Program scholarships this year, joining about 2,000 students and recent graduates from around the country to study and teach abroad.