Office of National Scholars

What is a national scholar?

The Office of National Scholars (ONS) fosters scholarly development by guiding USF students and alumni seeking opportunities for learning beyond the classroom. This includes prestigious award and scholarship programs for research, international education, graduate study, and professional development. Discover what it means to pursue competitive awards.

Engage with the Office of National Scholars

ONS in Numbers

418 Gilman Scholars
82 Fulbright Program Recipients
45 Critical Language Scholars, Boren Scholars, Boren Fellows
53 NSF Graduate Research Fellows and Honorable Mentions
27 Goldwater Scholars and Honorable Mentions
13 Fulbright UK Summer Institute Recipients
16 Hollings Scholars
10 Florida Gubernatorial Fellows
4 Rangel Fellows
5 Phi Beta Kappa Key Into Public Service Scholars
3 Pickering Fellows
2 Gates Cambridge Scholars
1 Marshall Scholar
1 Knight-Hennessy Scholar
5 Truman Scholarship Finalists
6 Marshall Scholarship Finalists
3 Rhodes Scholarship Finalists
2 Schwarzman Scholars Finalists
2 Knight-Hennessy Scholars Finalists

USF Named 25-Year Top Producer of Gilman Scholars

03/13/26 — The University of South Florida was recognized as one of the top 25 producers of Gilman Scholars in the United States, highlighting the university’s commitment to access, experiential learning and global opportunities for students.

Peter Alspaugh, Taylor Rand, and Malik Zekri standing in the Honors College

Going for Goldwater: USF Students Share Research Behind the Scholarship

02/23/26 — 2025 Barry Goldwater Scholarship recipients Taylor Rand, Abdul-Malik Zekri, and Peter Alspaugh are breaking boundaries in natural sciences, neuroscience, and mathematics research. From studying insect ecosystems in Florida woodlands to building 3D models of neurons and advancing mathematical theory, their work reflects the depth and ambition of undergraduate research at USF.

Nico Lavaud poses next to an ocean shore in Senegal.

Nico Lavaud’s Boren Scholar Experience in Senegal

02/23/26 — From a summer classroom in Gainesville to the beaches of Dakar, USF College of Arts and Sciences and Judy Genshaft Honors College student Nico Lavaud shares his firsthand account of receiving the Boren Scholarship to study French for two semesters through the African Flagship Languages Initiative.

Kobe Phillips
Marshall Scholarship Finalist

Kobe is studying ecology and computational design in Cornell University's Design Technology master's program. His research focuses on the intersection of material science, synthetic biology, and fabrication design to bridge the gap between built spaces and biological structures.