From improving healthcare access and advancing educational equity to addressing microplastic pollution and helping young people navigate an increasingly complex world, University of South Florida students are putting their ideas into action through the 2026 United Nations Millennium Fellowship.
This year’s 24 USF Millennium Fellows — up from 15 in 2025 and the university’s largest cohort to date — are developing community-based projects that address issues affecting Tampa Bay and beyond. Selected for the quality and potential impact of their proposed projects, the students are spending the fall semester building leadership skills, collaborating with peers, and working toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
USF has hosted a Millennium Fellowship cohort every year since 2020, giving students an opportunity to join a global network of young leaders working to advance the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
The 2026 global application process drew more than 76,000 applicants from more than 6,000 campuses across 170-plus nations. Only 330 campuses in 60 nations were selected to host more than 5,500 Millennium Fellows, including USF.
Unified By Common Goals
Stacy Rodriguez and Vanessa Quiroz — USF campus directors for the 2026 Millennium Fellowship cohort.
In 2015, all United Nations member states adopted 17 development goals as a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity. The goals address issues including health, education, inequality, sustainability, and economic opportunity.
At USF, the 2026 Millennium Fellows are translating those global goals into local action. Their projects are designed to reach people across Tampa Bay, from elementary and high school students to older adults, people experiencing homelessness, and underserved communities.
Two USF students, Vanessa Quiroz and Stacy Rodriguez, will serve as campus directors for the 2026 cohort. They will organize gatherings, support their peers, and help guide the Fellows throughout the semester.
USF’s 2026 Millennium Fellowship Projects
End Overdose
Hemangi Patel, Carol Agaiby, Niveditha Chandrkanth, and Joy Yang
End Overdose USF educates and empowers students to prevent and reverse opioid overdoses with naloxone (Narcan) and fentanyl testing strips. The Millennium Fellowship project will expand the group’s outreach off-campus and establish an annual on-campus harm reduction tabling fair.
Joy Yang, Carol Agaiby, and Niveditha Chandrkanth distribute tabling materials for End Overdose in USF's Marshall Student Center.
YAM: Youth Against Microplastics
Sheena Kurakula and Ari Tran
Youth Against Microplastics raises awareness about microplastic contamination and its effects on environmental and human health. The project will measure microplastic levels in campus drinking water sources and partner with local environmental organizations to collect and share data. The students will also host interactive seminars at local high schools to teach students about microplastics, their potential health effects, and everyday choices that can help reduce them.
Agency in the Age of AI
Avani Sanghvi
Agency in the Age of AI is a pre-college seminar for high school students focused on philosophy and critical thinking. The program will encourage students to develop a stronger understanding of their goals and beliefs as they prepare to make important decisions about education, careers, and adulthood. Students will also explore pressing societal issues, including the impact of AI on democracy, while developing skills that can support their mental well-being and decision-making.
Cycle of Care
Vanessa Quiroz
Cycle of Care is a period pantry initiative addressing period poverty at USF and in the surrounding community by providing free menstrual health resources, including tampons and pads. The project empowers individuals to understand and care for their bodies during menstruation, recognize when to seek support, and connect with local resources for affordable, nutritious food and other essential needs. Educational materials and resources are translated into English and Spanish, to promote accessibility and inclusion.
ClearPath
Stacy Rodriguez, Shahed Rassas, Angelin Abraham
ClearPath is a mentorship and educational access initiative designed to help high school students, especially first-generation, immigrant, and underrepresented students, navigate college, scholarships, extracurricular opportunities, and career pathways. Through mentorship, informational resources, social media content, and virtual support, the project will help students overcome barriers created by a lack of guidance and make informed decisions about their futures.
Grounded
Kamaleldin Kamaleldin
Grounded is an open-access resource platform designed to help students from disadvantaged backgrounds navigate the college application process. The platform will provide practical tools, guides, and a community space where students can ask questions, share knowledge, and learn from one another. The goal is to make the path to higher education more transparent and attainable for students who may otherwise have to navigate it alone.
Bhavya Gudaru presents a research poster.
Pathway to Inclusion
Bhavya Gudaru
Pathway to Inclusion will work to create a more inclusive and accessible environment for students with disabilities at USF. The project will connect students with campus resources, increase awareness of accessibility challenges, and provide an online accessibility guide. Student discussions, fundraisers, and visits to disability homes will also create opportunities to promote empathy, inclusion, and community.
Additional 2026 USF Millennium Fellowship Projects
- Aaliyah Mathew and Angelina Chacko: Smile and Shield
- Sayedeh Samina Alavi Dehkordi: EMRIS: Education Mentorship for Refugee and Immigrant Students
- Nidhi Sree Perla: Think & Tinker
- Megha Kalia: Navigate and Thrive
- Sirinandini Amperayani: The Mirror Movement
- Paige Berry: Gogh For It
- Noor Benettaib: Mental Health for All
- Anjali Arun: Safer Motherhood Project
- USF students Cedrese Miller and Kristie Saieh were also selected as 2026 Millennium Fellows. Their projects were not disclosed at the time of publication.
Student Leaders Continue to Drive Change
As members of a highly selective global network of changemakers, this year's USF Millennium Fellows exemplify the university's spirit of innovation
and service. Their projects will bring student expertise and energy into communities
across Tampa Bay while addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing people
locally and around the world.
“We are incredibly proud of this year’s Millennium Fellows, who are both strengthening
existing community initiatives and launching innovative new projects,” said Lauren
Roberts, the assistant director of the USF Office of National Scholars. “The breadth
of their work reflects the many ways USF students are making a difference, with leadership
and service touching nearly every corner of the Tampa Bay community.”
Students interested in the Millennium Fellowship should visit the Office of National Scholars.