Fall on a college campus is full of renewed energy, and nowhere is this more evident
than at the University of South Florida. Students hit the ground running this year,
and the USF Office of National Scholars (ONS) was prepared to usher them toward new
opportunities. ONS has offered a full slate of workshops, seminars and information
sessions this semester, with most hitting record attendance numbers.
Some of the most popular offerings included sessions on international field learning,
undergraduate research and how to apply for graduate school. The office also introduced
a new series on careers in government and public policy to meet the growing demand
from students interested in public service.
During advising sessions, ONS Director Sayandeb Basu noticed that undergraduates wanted
a greater understanding of the process behind writing and enacting policy.
“A part of the motivation for the seminar series aimed to demystify this process,”
said Basu. “Scholars with public policy aspirations have a need to understand the
attributes of a public servant and how to develop them through relevant legislative
or think tank experiences.”
A Season of Growth
This semester also saw a record number of students applying for the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, a U.S. Department of State–sponsored award for Pell Grant recipients to study abroad.
Thanks in part to a new partnership with the USF Office of Financial Aid, which sent communications about the Gilman Scholarship to all Pell Grant recipients on campus, the number of applicants rose to 96 — a 22% increase from last year.
This federal support for high-financial-need students is vital at USF, helping increase participation in international experiences. The Gilman Scholarship has served as a launching pad for countless students to pursue further international education, fellowships, graduate study, and more.
The office also increased advising efforts for the DAAD RISE program, a summer research experience in Germany funded by the German government. Recipients are mentored by a graduate student or researcher at a German university of applied sciences. The program helps students nurture skills essential to successful research careers while promoting international scientific collaboration.
USF will have its largest cohort of applicants ever at the end of November, including students studying engineering, computer science, neuroscience, biology, chemistry, math, physics, and biomedical sciences.
Investing in a Brighter Future
ONS also worked with its first full cohort of applicants for the Churchill Scholarship this fall. USF was selected as a Churchill partner institution in 2024. Eighteen scholars are selected each year for one year of master’s study at Churchill College, Cambridge, in science, mathematics, engineering, and science policy.
This year’s two applicants — the maximum number a university can nominate — are two of USF’s 2025 Goldwater Scholars: Malik Zekri and Peter Alspaugh.
In his current research, Alspaugh uses applied analytical and computer-aided mathematical methods to analyze real-world situations, such as the way DNA folds. If awarded the scholarship, he plans to continue his study of pure mathematics with a focus on algebra through a master’s program at Cambridge.
Zekri, who focuses on computational neuroscience and complexity research, aims to understand the neural architectures that underpin decision-making processes in the brain, bridging neuroscience and neuro-inspired artificial intelligence. If selected to attend Cambridge, he intends to work with Dr. Marta Zlatic on “reversal learning,” the concept of adjusting learned behavior based on changing cues.
Zekri is also applying for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship, which similarly funds graduate study at Cambridge but with a mission to support students with the potential to improve lives globally.
These prestigious fellowship applications are often years in the making, supported not only by the ONS team but by mentors, researchers, faculty, and administrators across campus.
Forging Ahead
As the semester slows down for many, students and staff in ONS are still hard at work, pushing through fall and winter deadlines. Their efforts will pay off this spring, when students find out whether they have been selected for the prestigious awards they have spent months preparing for.
Meanwhile, the ONS team will keep meeting with motivated students, helping them build the skills and confidence they need to succeed academically and professionally.
Explore upcoming sessions and the opportunities available on the ONS website.