Laken Chapin '24 (Accounting). Laken was awarded the Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) Junior Summer Institute Fellowship Award. This award will give her the opportunity to pursue her passion for public policy, specifically in tax, by letting her experience graduate-level coursework, research, and leadership support from Princeton University. She plans to attend their JSI in the Summer of 2024.

Each year, PPIA seeks out high-potential undergraduate students from universities across the country to become PPIA Fellows and participate in an intensive, seven-week PPIA Junior Summer Institute hosted by one of their six prestigious university partners. The Junior Summer Institute program is specially designed to give students from historically underrepresented backgrounds and diverse lived experience greater access to a successful career in public service.

Madison Smith '23 (Biochemistry). Madison was awarded the Phi Kappa Phi Fellowship Award. This is providing her with the means to pursue her passion for forensic science by allowing her to work toward a Master's degree in forensic science at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Established in 1932, the Phi Kappa Phi Fellowship Program annually provides funding to first-year graduate students who are pursuing post-baccalaureate degrees across all academic disciplines. The GVSU PKP Chapter is the university's national honor society. Students need to be PKP members to apply. 

Avery Koan '24 (Geography & Environmental and Sustainability Studies). Avery was the recipient of the John H. Logie Fellowship in the Winter 2024 semester. This award allowed her to pursue her passion for urban planning within the City of Grand Rapids Planning Department. She gained real-world experience in the Planning Department by helping them with a variety of projects including making Geographic Information System (GIS) maps, attending weekly meetings, creating a dashboard for the 2024 Master Plan that will be accessible for the public, and assisting in a Steering Committee meeting at City Hall.  

Each semester, the John H. Logie Fellowship seeks out a high-potential undergraduate student of junior or senior year status or any graduate student from any discipline who would benefit from an in-depth understanding of specific aspects of city governance.

Gabrielle Bogataj ’22 (Film and Video Production). Gabrielle received the North American Language and Culture Assistants Program (NALCAP) fellowship for the 2023-2024 academic year. Through NALCAP, Gabrielle had the opportunity to move to Madrid, Spain, and teach secondary students English. Her time in Madrid has allowed her to experience a new culture, learn a new language, and develop skills that will last a lifetime.  

The North American Language and Culture Assistants Program (NALCAP) is the flagship program of the Education Office of Spain. NALCAP enables American college students and graduates - who are native-like speakers of English - to partner with elementary and secondary schools in Spain to bolster language programs as language assistants (TAs) under the supervision and guidance of teachers in Spain.

Brittany Pomierski ‘25 (Biomedical Sciences). Brittany received the Freeman-Asia Scholarship to study in Seoul, Korea, for the Fall 2023 semester. As a Biomedical Sciences student, Brittany is studying Korean in order to use it in her future career as a Physician Assistant. Her experience abroad advanced her understanding of Korean language and culture (including allowing her to try her new favorite dishes of kimchi jjigae and dakgangjeong Chicken).

The Freeman-ASIA program is designed to support U.S.-based undergraduates with demonstrated financial need who are planning to study abroad in East or Southeast Asia.

Rachel Robinson ‘25 (Behavioral Neuroscience). As a returning adult learner, Rachel was awarded the Fund for Education Abroad Fellowship. This award will allow her the opportunity to immerse herself in the cultural hub of London and delve into courses on religion and history, seeking insights into how they shape societal dynamics. Through this fellowship, she aims to equip herself with a nuanced understanding of interfaith dialogue and social justice advocacy, laying the groundwork for a future career in public communications and community development. She will be inspired to share her journey of overcoming barriers and embracing new opportunities, and she aspires to empower others to pursue their dreams and challenge societal norms.

The mission of the Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) is to provide scholarships and ongoing support to students who are underrepresented among the U.S. study abroad population. 

Autumn Chorney '23 (Psychology). Autumn was awarded the Gilman International Scholarship for the Winter Semester 2023. This scholarship enabled Autumn to participate as a research fellow at the University of New South Wales under Dr. Eddie Harmon-Jones. Here, Autumn examined the psychology of conspiracy theory and worked toward advancing emotion research.

The U.S. Department of State Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship is a grant program that enables students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad, thereby gaining skills critical to U.S. national security and economic competitiveness.

Kobe Wright '24 (Film and Video). Kobe received the Freeman-Asia Scholarship for study in Japan in Fall 2023. In the course of this semester, Kobe's self-confidence and cross-cultural communicative skills increased as he studied Japanese, immersed himself in his host culture, formed new friendships and found inspiration for his career as an artist.

The Freeman-ASIA program is designed to support U.S.-based undergraduates with demonstrated financial need who are planning to study abroad in East or Southeast Asia.