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 Students Set Record for Most Gilman Scholars in a Fall Cycle

12/15/25 — Twice a year, students across the United States apply for the Gilman Scholarship to fund study abroad and internship opportunities abroad. This fall, applications from USF students experienced a dramatic 22% increase, which translated to a record number of awards. Now, 20 USF students will travel and study abroad as Gilman Scholars, to countries like the Dominican Republic, Portugal, South Korea, and the United Kingdom.

ONS workshop room full of students watching a presentation on the benefits of study abroad

USF Students Aim High as Fall National Scholarship Applications Hit Record Levels

11/18/25 — The USF Office of National Scholars saw record attendance at its workshops and seminars this fall. In addition to nominating its first full cohort for the Churchill Scholarship, the ONS team mentored the largest number of Gilman Scholarship applicants ever for a fall cycle, and the students aren’t slowing down anytime soon.

Coen McGarrah holding a baby shark on a boat in the water.

From Classrooms to Coastlines: CAS Undergraduates Apply Learning as NOAA Hollings Scholars

09/26/25 — Three USF College of Arts and Sciences undergraduates were named NOAA Ernest F. Hollings Scholars, a prestigious national recognition earning paid internships at NOAA facilities where they applied classroom learning to research and policy projects with NOAA scientists.

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.