Lakers recognized nationally for academic excellence, global engagement

Through their studies and research, GVSU students and recent graduates have earned competitive scholarships and fellowships that will allow them to make a global impact in their fields and support their academic and professional growth.

Whether advancing cutting-edge research in computer science or engaging in immersive language and teaching experiences abroad, these Lakers have been recognized for their talent, ambition, and commitment to excellence.

Goldwater Scholarship

Senior Marcos Sanson became the fifth GVSU student since 2019 to receive the Goldwater Scholarship awarded to help support students pursuing careers as research scientists. 

Sanson, studying computer science, said he would like to obtain his doctoral degree and work at a national laboratory to advance autonomous systems for real-world applications.

“My research focuses on evolutionary computation and how it can improve the performance and adaptability of complex systems, including autonomous platforms,” Sanson said. 

Gilman Scholarship

Nine Grand Valley students received Gilman International Scholarships in the 2024-2025 academic year to help with their studies abroad: Victoria Airo (Spain), Zulekha Alemayehu (Switzerland), Abigail Austin (Northern Ireland), Noah Boggs (Poland), Tyler Chisholm (United Kingdom), Alison Hosinski (Australia), Lillian Reiner (Italy), Joshua Richter (Switzerland) and Meaghan Wright (Japan).

“The Gilman Scholarship is a perfect fit for my current academic goals,” Richter said. “It is more than just financial support, it is a gateway to personal growth, professional development and a wonderful opportunity to contribute to a more globally connected world.”

Critical Languages Scholarship

The Critical Languages Scholarship Program partners with universities to provide students an opportunity to study the language and culture of host nations. This year, two students received the CLS award: Meaghan Wright (Japan) and Brittany Pomierski (Korea).

CLS scholars are expected to continue their language study beyond the scholarship and apply their critical language skills in their future careers.

Japan Exchange and Teaching Program

Jessica Koerkel, Sam Schweitzer and Kobe Wright received JET fellowships to teach English in Japan for the 2025-2026 year. Founded in 1987, JET has sent more than 35,000 Americans to work in schools, boards of education and government offices throughout Japan. JET is the only teaching exchange program managed by the Japanese government.

NSF-GRFP

Two Grand Valley graduates — Georgia Sands, ’23, and Rachelle Baumann, ’22, — have been awarded the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program. Sands is a doctoral candidate in chemistry at the University of Wisconsin and Baumann is a doctoral candidate in biochemistry at the University of Michigan.

The NSF-GRFP is a five-year fellowship that provides three years of financial support, including an annual stipend of $37,000. 

Five GVSU students were also selected for the fellowship’s honorable mention: Christina Dressel, Owen McCaffrey, Grace Miller, Oliver Reyes and John Stockdale.

Students and graduates interested in scholarship or fellowship opportunities can visit the Frederik Meijer Office of Fellowships for more information.