Students standing in front of a mural that say A World Awaits

External Scholarships Office Helps Students Achieve Dreams

The UA Office of External Scholarships and Fellowships and its committee had another successful academic year by helping more than 50 students secure major endorsed and non-endorsed awards in 2023-2024.

The office assists students in the pursuit of national and international awards including the Rhodes, Goldwater and Truman, among others. During the 2023-2024 academic year, External Scholarships and Fellowships assisted more than 200 students by providing advising and mentoring during the application process.

“The Office of External Scholarships and Fellowships works with any student, in any discipline, who wants to compete for a prestigious external scholarship,” said Dr. Lucy Kaufman, director of the Office of External Scholarships and Fellowships. “We ask students to think seriously about who they are and what they want out of life — not only to consider where they have been and what they are doing now but also to envision possible futures for themselves. Engaging with the process helps students to clarify their sense of self through writing, interviewing and presenting.

“We provide mentorship at all phases of the application process, from direct one-to-one advising to helping students develop practical skills like crafting personal statements and résumés to networking events and mock interviews.”

The Office of External Scholarships and Fellowships set new UA records that include:

  • Three students received Boren Scholarships in a single year
  • Six students earned Critical Language Scholarships in a single year
  • UA had two of the 12 students who received Mitchell Scholarships from around the nation.
  • First Eisenhower Global Scholar
  • First Obama Foundation Voyager Scholarship winner

In addition, UA had its first Udall Scholar in 23 years and first Pickering Fellow in 13 years.

Aside from educational opportunities around the nation, UA’s awardees will also study abroad in 27 countries.

A world map highlighting the countries where students will study thanks to major awards.

“We want our students to dream big — and work to make those dreams a reality,” Kaufman said.

Students interested in applying for awards that require an institutional endorsement can learn more on the External Scholarships and Fellowships website.